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Home My WebLink About2025-066-E-County Mgr-Eno River Association-Prairie RestorationCOMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION GRANT PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into the tenth day of February, 2025, (“Effective Date”) by and between the County of Orange, a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina, Post Office Box 8181, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278, ("County") and Eno River Association a legal entity corporation, located at 4404 Guess Road, Durham, NC 27712(“Provider”). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, it is in the interests of the County that said program be assisted by the County and thereby enhance its availability to residents of the County, and said program addresses an important community human services need, as identified by the Board of Commissioners. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the mutual covenants and conditions hereafter set forth, the County and Provider agree as follows: 1. Term of the Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall be two years beginning February 10, 2025 to February 10, 2027. 2. Scope of Services. a. Provider will provide services, as outlined in the attached Community Climate Action Grant Program Application and any amendments or revision thereto which is attached as Exhibit “A” and incorporated by reference, to the residents of Orange County. The Scope of Services and the Program Budget may be different from the original application based on County appropriation; however, any revisions or amendments to this Agreement must be approved in writing by the County and attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B. b. The Provider shall be solely responsible for the means, methods, techniques, sequence, safety program and procedures necessary to properly and fully complete the work set forth in the Scope of Services. 3. Funding. a. The County agrees to appropriate for the provision of services described in Exhibit A, the Community Climate Action Grant Program Performance Application, Exhibit B, the Revised, Scope of Services and more particularly described in the Revised Program Budget, the maximum sum of $22,600. b. All funds appropriated shall be used for purposes described in Exhibit A. Any funds not used for the purposes stated shall be returned to the County. Any changes in the use of funds must be authorized in writing by the County prior to any expenditure of the funds by the Provider. If the funds are expended not in accordance with the Scope of Services, at the discretion of the County the Provider may be required to repay the funds to the County. c. The Provider shall be paid in installments in the amount of See Exhibit C to be paid as follows: See Exhibit C. The first payment is contingent upon receipt of the agency’s performance agreement; the remaining payments are contingent upon receipt of the request for reimbursement and related supporting documentation and performance outlined in the Revised Scope of Services and Project Budget in Exhibit B. If the project described in Exhibit A requires funds to be provided on a different or more accelerated schedule, the Provider may request an alternative payment schedule, which if approved, will be attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C, Alterative Payment Schedule. Should an Alternative Payment schedule be approved, the Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Provider will still be required to submit quarterly Progress Reports for the duration of the Term of the Agreement. d. The County’s obligation to make the quarterly payments is contingent upon receipt of Progress Reports, which show satisfactory progress toward completion of performance measures and an accounting of expenditures as detailed in the attached Exhibits B and C. e. Once Provider has satisfied its obligations as provided in (c) payment will be made 21 days after receipt of the Progress Report and Request for Reimbursement or 21 days after due date of Progress Report whichever is later. f. The County is not obligated to provide any other support to Provider in this or in succeeding fiscal years. 4. Agency Reporting. a. Provider will provide Orange County a Progress Report that includes a fiscal report and updates on performance measures as outlined in Exhibit B, Revised Scope of Services. . Progress Report dates are: January 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-September 30, and October 1-December 31. Reports are due on April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 15 of the program fiscal year. b. Provider agrees to allow the County to inspect its financial books and records, which document costs of those services, upon reasonable notice during normal working hours. 5. Termination. a. Termination for Cause. In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below (hereinafter referred to as “default”), the County may immediately terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part, and from time to time. Notice of termination must be in writing, state the reason or reasons for the termination, and specify the effective date of the termination: i. In the event that Provider shall cease to exist as an organization or shall enter bankruptcy proceedings, be declared insolvent, or liquidate all or substantially all of its assets, or significantly reduce its services or accessibility to Orange County residents during the term of this Agreement; or ii. In the event that Provider shall fail to render a satisfactory accounting as provided in section 4 above, the County may terminate this Agreement and Provider shall return all payments already made to it by the County for services which have not been provided or for which no satisfactory accounting has been rendered; or iii. In the event of any fraudulent representation by the Provider in an invoice or other verification required to obtain payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter relating to the performance of services under this Agreement. iv. Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to satisfactorily perform any part of the work identified in the Scope of Services or to comply with any provision of this Agreement, as determined by the County in its sole discretion. v. Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws, regulations, or stated public policy. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 b. In the event of default by the Provider, the county may elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require the Provider to repay the funds within ten (10) business days from written notice of default. The County may (but shall not be required to) grant the Provider an opportunity to cure the default without termination of this Agreement. This clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County’s remedies in law or in equity. c. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may terminate the agreement at any time without penalty; provided that written notice of such termination is furnished to the other party at least 30 days prior to termination. In the event of such termination, any payment due shall be prorated to the date of termination and any unused funds shall be returned to the County within 10 days of termination. d. Any termination of this Agreement for default under this section that is later deemed to be unjustified shall be deemed a termination for convenience. e. Waiver. The payment of any sums by the County under this Agreement or the failure of the County to require compliance by the Provider with any provisions of this Agreement or the waiver by the County of any breach of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any claim for damages by the County for any breach of this Agreement or a waiver of any other required compliance with this Agreement. 6. Responsibilities of the County. Cooperation and Coordination. The County has designated (Amy Eckberg) to act as the County's representative with respect to the Project who shall have the authority to render decisions within guidelines established by the County Manager or the County Board of Commissioners and who shall be available during working hours as often as may be reasonably required to render decisions and to furnish information. 7. Insurance. a. General Requirements. The Provider shall purchase and maintain, during the period of performance of this Agreement, insurance: i. Worker’s Compensation. For protection from claims under workers' or workmen's compensation acts; ii. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance covering claims arising out of or relating to bodily injury, including bodily injury, sickness, disease or death of any of the Consultant's employees or any other person and to real and personal property including loss of use resulting thereof; iii. Comprehensive Automobile Liability Insurance, including hired and non-owned vehicles, if any, covering personal injury or death, and property damage; and iv. Professional Liability Insurance, covering personal injury, bodily injury and property damage and claims arising out of or related to the performance under this Agreement by the Consultant or his agents, consultants and employees. v. Sexual Misconduct. Sexual Abuse/Molestation Insurance is required when Provider works directly one-on-one with children, elderly or other at-risk populations. b. Limits of Coverage: Minimum limits of insurance coverage shall be as follows: Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 INSURANCE DESCRIPTION MINIMUM REQUIRED COVERAGE • Worker's Compensation Limits for Coverage A - Statutory State NC & Coverage B - Employers Liability $500,000 each accident, disease policy limit and disease each employee • Commercial General $1,000,000 Each Occurrence Liability $2,000,000 Aggregate • Automobile Liability $500,000 Combined Single Limit • Professional Liability $1,000,000 Each Occurrence $2,000,000 Aggregate • Sexual Misconduct $1,000,000 Each Occurrence $2,000,000 Aggregate c. All insurance policies (with the exception of Worker's Compensation and Professional Liability) required under this Agreement shall name the County as an additional insured party and as a certificate holder. For more information see the Orange County Risk Transfer Policy and Orange County Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements, (each document is incorporated herein by reference and may be viewed at http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php.) Evidence of such insurance and all correspondence shall be sent to: Orange County Risk Manager Post Office Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 d. Nothing in this section is intended to affect or abrogate the County’s sovereign immunity defenses. 8. General Provisions. a. Governing Law. This Agreement and the duties, responsibilities, obligations and rights of respective parties hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina. By executing this Agreement Provider affirms that Provider and any subcontractors of Provider are and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. By executing this Agreement Provider certifies that Provider has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement Provider certifies that Provider has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. b. Non-Discrimination. Provider agrees as part of consideration of the granting of funds by Orange County the parties hereto for themselves, their agents, officials, employees and servants agree not to discriminate in any manner of these basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, familial status or veterans status with reference to any activities carried out by the grantee, no matter how remote. The parties hereto further agree in all respects to conform to the provision and intent of Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, as amended and the Orange County Non-discrimination Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference and can be viewed at http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php. The County may enforce this provision by an action for specific performance, injunctive relief, or other remedy as by law provided; this provision shall be binding on the grantees, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto with reference to the above subject manner. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 c. Dispute Resolution. Any and all suits or actions to enforce, interpret or seek damages with respect to any provision of, or the performance or non-performance of, this Agreement shall be brought in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina sitting in Orange County, North Carolina. It is agreed by the parties that no other court shall have jurisdiction or venue with respect to such suits or actions. Binding arbitration may not be initiated by either Party, however, the Parties may agree to nonbinding mediation of any dispute prior to the bringing of such suit or action. d. Living Wage. Orange County is committed to providing its employees with a living wage and encourages agencies if funds to pursue the same goal. The Orange County Living Wage Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference, can be viewed at: http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php. The County’s living wage is $16.60 per hour. To the extent possible, Orange County recommends that Provider provide a living wage to its employees. e. Relationship of the Parties. Provider is an independent contractor of the County. Provider represents that they have or will secure, at his own expense, all personnel required in performing the services under this Agreement. Such personnel shall not be employees or have any contractual relationship with the County. All personnel engaged in work under this Agreement shall be fully qualified and shall be authorized and permitted under federal, state and local law to perform such services. f. Compliance with all Laws. The Provider, at its sole expense, shall comply with all laws, ordinances, orders and regulations of the federal, state or local governments, as well as their respective departments, commissions, boards, and officers, which are in effect at the time of execution of this Agreement or are adopted at any time following execution of this agreement. g. Subcontract. The County and Provider deem the services provided under this Agreement to be personal in nature and Provider may not subcontract any rights or duties under this Agreement to any other party without prior written consent from the County. h. Assignment. The Provider shall not assign this Agreement, including the rights to payment, to any other party without the prior written consent of the County. i. Indemnification. Provider agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the County, for all loss, liability, claims or expense (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from bodily injury, including death or property damage, to any person or persons caused in whole or in part by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Provider, except to the extent same are caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the County. It is the intent of this section to require Provider to indemnify the County to the extent permitted under North Carolina law. Nothing in this section is intended to affect or abrogate the County’s sovereign immunity defenses. j. Non-Appropriation. This Agreement is subject to the availability of funds to purchase the specified services and may be terminated at any time if such funds become unavailable. k. Severability. All clauses found herein shall act independently of each other. If a clause is found to be illegal or unenforceable, it shall have no effect on the other provisions of this Agreement. It is understood by the parties hereto that if any part, term or provision of this Agreement is by the Courts held to be illegal or in conflict with any laws of the State of North Carolina or the United States, the validity of the remaining portions or provisions shall not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be invalid. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 l. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire and integrated agreement between the County and the Provider and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations or agreements, either written or oral. This Agreement may be amended only by written instrument signed by both parties. Modifications may be evidenced by facsimile signatures. m. Notices. Any notice required by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested to the following: Orange County Provider’s Name: Eno River Association Attention: Amy Eckberg Attention: Indigo Roper-Edwards P.O. Box 8181 Address: 4404 Guess Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 Durham, NC 27712 Email:aeckberg@orangecountync.gov Email: indigo@enoriver.org n. Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 66. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Provider have signed this Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the dates set forth under signatures below. For and on behalf of the Provider _____________________________ _______________________ , Date For and on behalf of Orange County Government _______________________________ ________________________ Travis Myren, County Manager Date Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 2/12/2025 2/18/2025 ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY ______________________________________________________________________________ Finance Information Vendor Name: Eno River Association Vendor Contact Person: Indigo Roper-Edwards Phone: 919-620-9099 Address: 4404 Guess Road, City Durham State: NC Zip: 27712 Department: County Manager Amount: $22,600 Purpose: Prairie Restoration Budget Code(s): 61210335-803099-30052 Vendor # 56229 Vendor Status with NCSOS: Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes X No Contract Details Contract Type: New Amendment (Original Contract: ) (Most Recent Amendment ) Effective Date 2/10/25 End Date 2/10/27 Notice Date (Notice Purpose ) Award X Approved by Board (Agenda Date: 12/10/24); Made or Administered by Signature Authority - BOCC Express Delegation (Agenda Date: ) - Policy 9.4: Under $5,000; Service Under $90,000; Construction Under $250,000 - Budget Policy Section XV (Capital Improvement Project: ) Bidding Informal Bidding ($30k-$90k); Formal RFP ($90k+); Other (<$30k); Exception(# ) Department Affirmation X This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement. Services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed. Description of the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed: Department Director’s Signature ________________________________________ Date: ________ Information Technologies This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer___________________________________ Date: ________ Inapplicable because no hardware/software purchases or related service Risk Management This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements: Office of the Risk Management Officer___________________________________ Date: _________ Financial Services This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act: Office of the Chief Financial Officer ____________________________________ Date: _________ Legal Services This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency: Office of the County Attorney __________________________________________Date: ________ Clerk to the Board All Docusign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts: Received for record retention: Office of the Clerk to the Board __________________________________________Date:_________ Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 2/12/2025 2/17/2025 2/17/2025 2/18/2025 Exhibit A Community Climate Action Grant Program Application FY24-25 Board of County Commissioners Agenda 12-10-24 Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Exhibit B Community Climate Action Grant Program’s Revised Scope of Services and Program Budget No Revisions Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Climate Action Grant Program Revised 1/25 Page 10 of 10 Exhibit C Community Climate Action Grant Program’s Alternative Payment Schedule $13,892.00 disbursed in September 2025. This funding will be used to purchase prairie seeds to be planted in October ($5,040), the rental of the seed drill to plant these seeds ($722), the seedlings for the reforestation field ($3,630), and the tree cages for the reforestation plantings ($4,500). $7,938.00 disbursed in December 2025. This funding will be used to purchase prairie seeds to be planted in March ($7,216) and to rent the seed drill for these plantings ($722). $770.00 disbursed in March 2026. This funding will be used for community outreach related to this habitat restoration ($400) and to partially fund educational signage about the project ($370). Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Eno River Association Orange County Community Climate Action Grant Program Performance Agreement Page 11 of 11 Rev.1/25 ATTACHMENT “A” Orange County Certifications – FY 2024-2025 Community Climate Action Grant Performance Agreement Chief Contact, Administrators, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer I certify that I have provided a list of the chief contact, administrators, chief executive officer and chief financial officer for my agency with this Agreement and that I will keep it current to the County of Orange. The list should be in writing with the name, title, residential address; phone and email address and if possible, fax number. Officers and Board of Directors I certify that I have provided a current list of the Officers and Board of Directors with this Agreement and that we will continue to update the list as changes occur. The list should be in writing, with the name, physical address, mailing address and if possible, phone, fax and email address. Budget Submission I certify that I have provided a budget for the period to be covered by funding Orange County, and that any substantive changes made to this budget have been in advance authorized in writing by Orange County. Annual Financial Review I certify that I have provided a copy of the latest annual Financial Review for our agency and the budget adopted by the agency for the fiscal years encompassing this Agreement. If not, please explain on a separate sheet of paper. Alignment with Organization’s Mission I certify that the programs and services for which this funding is requested align with the mission of the organization. Intended Purpose I certify that the funds provided to the agency under the terms of this Agreement will be used for a public purpose and shall only be used for the purposes intended and any money not used for those purposes will be promptly returned to Orange County. Certified by: _______________________ Title: __________________________ Date: ___________ (Provider’s Signature) Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Land Stewardship Manager 2/12/2025 Page 1 of 24 Orange County Community Climate Action Grant - Application 2024-25 SUBMISSION CHECKLIST Primary Applicant Organization: Eno River Association Project Name: Nature-based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area Note: Please read the Background and Information document before filling out this application. Section Subsection Cover Page ☒ Applicant and Collaborator/Partner Contact Information ☒ Funding Request Summary ☒ Signed Application Cover Page Disclosure ☒ Signed Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Clause Applicant Organization and Collaborator Information ☒ Applicant organization’s Date of Incorporation (if applicable) ☒ Applicant organization’s Purpose/Mission (if applicable) ☒ Living Wage ☒ Schedule of Positions (if applicable) Project Information ☒ Project Name ☒ Project Description and Climate Action Plan Alignment ☒ Collaborator Information (if applicable) ☒ Criteria-Specific Sections 1-7 Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 2 of 24 Attachments (A description of these items is available on page 13: “Description of Required Attachments.” Please contact us if it will not be possible to provide any of these required attachments at the time of application: sustainability@orangecountync .gov ☒ Applicant Organization’s Annual Budget and Proposed Project Budget (Use template provided) ☒ Applicable Financial Records to prove eligibility: IRS Federal Form 990 or Applicant Organization’s Tax Returns from 2023 ☐ Applicable Financial Records to prove eligibility of collaborator/partner (if they are receiving project funds): IRS Federal Form 990 or Tax Returns from 2023 – N/A ☒ List of members of organization’s Governing Board (if Board exists) ☐ Certificate of Insurance – Not Required Until Funded COVER PAGE Applicant Organization’s Contact Information Organization’s Legal Name: The Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, Inc Physical Address: 4404 Guess Road, Durham, NC 27712 Mailing Address: 4404 Guess Road, Durham, NC 27712 Web Address: Enoriver.org Telephone Number: 919-620-9099 E-Mail: association@enoriver.org Tax ID Number: 56-1134204 Funding Request Summary Please list all proposed projects (please list project name only) for which you are requesting Community Climate Action Grant funding for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Make sure to include a brief description of the proposed use of funds. Applicants will be asked to provide more details on their proposed project budget in the Budget Worksheets attachment. Project Equipment Operations Personnel Total Example: Youth Climate Leadership Project $10,000 $15,000 $5,000 $30,000 Nature-based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area $62,100 (supplies and equipment) $5,500 (contractor fees and rental equipment costs) $0 $67,600 Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 3 of 24 Briefly describe your proposed use of funds (2-4 sentences): To the best of my knowledge and belief, all information and data in this application is true and current. Signature: August 15, 2024 Applicant’s Authorized Signatory Date Funding will be used to cover contracted labor and related expenses and purchase or rent supplies, materials, and equipment for nature-based solutions at our Confluence Natural Area in northern Orange County. Practices include the conversion of a 14.2-acre existing agricultural field to a Piedmont prairie and the reforestation of another 8.6-acre existing agricultural field. Matching funds will cover the staff time, travel, education, and outreach related items. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 4 of 24 DISCLOSURE OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND NON- DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE Are any of the Board Members or employees of the organization which will be carrying out this project or their named project collaborators/partners or members of their immediate families, or their business associates: YES NO ☐ ☒ a) Employees of or closely related to employees of Orange County? ☐ ☒ b) Members of or closely related to members of the governing bodies of Orange County? ☐ ☒ c) Current beneficiaries of the program for which funds are being requested? ☐ ☒ d) Paid providers of goods or services to the program or have other financial interests in the program? If you have answered YES to any question or know of any other potential conflict of interest regarding your application, please provide a full explanation here: N/A NON-DISCRIMINATION Provider agrees as part of consideration of the granting of funds by funding agencies to the parties hereto for themselves, their agents, officials, employees and servants agree not to discriminate in any manner on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, handicap, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, familial status or veterans status with reference to any activities carried out by the grantee, no matter how remote. The parties hereto further agree in all respects to conform to the provision and intent of Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, as amended and the Orange County Anti-discrimination Policy. This provision is enforced by action for specific performance, injunctive relief, or other remedy as by law provided; t his provision shall be binding on the grantees, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto with reference to the above subject manner. To the best of my knowledge and belief all of the above information is true and current. I acknowledge and understand that the existence of a potential conflict of interest does not necessarily make the program ineligible for funding, but the existence of an undisclosed conflict may result in the termination of any grant awarded. Signature: August 15, 2024 Applicant’s Authorized Signatory Date Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 P.O. Box 8181 * Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Telephone: 919 245-2626 Applicant Organization Information Please provide the following information about the primary applicant organization: Contact Information for Primary Contact, Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director, and Chief Financial Officer Primary Contact Name Indigo Roper-Edwards Title Land Stewardship Manager Preferred phone number 919-620-9099 Email address indigo@enoriver.org Fax number (if applicable) Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director Name Jessica Sheffield Title Executive Director Preferred phone number 919-620-9099 Email address jessica@enoriver.org Fax number (if applicable) Chief Financial Officer Name Nick Ferguson Title Finance and Operations Manager Preferred phone number 919-620-9099 Email address nick@enoriver.org Fax number (if applicable) Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 6 of 24 1. Date of Incorporation (Month/Year): 501c3 status in July 1976; Established in 1966 2. Applicant organization’s Purpose/Mission (2-4 sentences): Eno River Association is an accredited land trust and conservation nonprofit driven by a mission to conserve and protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River Basin. Our vision is that the natural and human communities within the Eno River basin thrive and are resilient. The Eno River provides for the physical and spiritual health of all. The residents of the river basin act and advocate for conservation of natural, historical, and cultural resources, for their intrinsic values and their ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives. 3. Living Wage: Does this organization pay employees a minimum living wage ($17.65/hr or $16.15/hr with employer provided health insurance)? ☒ Yes ☐ No Is this organization an Orange County Living Wage Certified Employer? (Yes / No) If no, please briefly explain. ☐ Yes ☒ No – Our organization is based in Durham County but serves both Durham and Orange 4. Schedule of Positions: a. Number of Full-Time Paid Positions: 10 b. Number of Part-Time Paid Positions: 2 c. Number of Volunteers: Roughly 1,000 annually Collaborators and Partners In some projects, collaborators and partners provide essential capacity and connections. If collaborators or partners are an essential part of your project, whether or not they are receiving grant funds, please use this section to provide more details. If you are not working with collaborators or partners, please feel free to write N/A in this section and move to the Project Information section. Feel free to copy and paste Questions “1” through ”5” as needed if you have more than one significant collaborator/partner: 1. Collaborator Organization’s Legal Name: Triangle Prescribed Burn Association (Through NC Cooperative Extension) 2. Date of Incorporation (Month/Year): December 2023 3. Collaborator organization’s Purpose/Mission (2-4 sentences): Triangle Prescribed Burn Association is a group of like-minded individuals in the Triangle area across 5 counties (Orange, Alamance, Person, Durham, and Chatham) that come together to use fire as a tool for ‘Best Land Management Practices’ to restore Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 7 of 24 the land and to advocate for people willing to support prescribed fire. 4. Living Wage: Does this organization pay employees a minimum living wage ($17.65/hr or $16.15/hr with employer provided health insurance)? ☐ Yes ☒ No - N/A Is this organization an Orange County Living Wage Certified Employer? (Yes / No) If no, please briefly explain. ☐ Yes ☒ No - Volunteer- based organization (no paid staff) 5. Schedule of Positions: a. Number of Full-Time Paid Positions: 0 b. Number of Part-Time Paid Positions: 0 c. Number of Volunteers: 20 1. Collaborator Organization’s Legal Name: Bluestem Community NC 2. Date of Incorporation (Month/Year): December 2023 3. Collaborator organization’s Purpose/Mission (2-4 sentences): A place of reverence in a nature preserve, with native grassland restoration, a trail network, quiet areas for reflection, open space for contemplation, and a conservation cemetery for natural burial. 4. Living Wage: Does this organization pay employees a minimum living wage ($17.65/hr or $16.15/hr with employer provided health insurance)? ☒ Yes ☐ No Is this organization an Orange County Living Wage Certified Employer? (Yes / No) If no, please briefly explain. ☐ Yes ☒ No - Very few employees 5. Schedule of Positions: a. Number of Full-Time Paid Positions: 2 b. Number of Part-Time Paid Positions: 2 c. Number of Volunteers: 120 Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 8 of 24 Project Information *Please submit for each project if applying for funding for more than one project. 1. Project Name: Nature-based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area 2. Please briefly describe the proposed project. (100-300 words) The Eno River Association plans to convert our existing agricultural fields totaling nearly 23 acres at our Confluence Natural Area to either Piedmont prairie or forest. These nature-based solutions will decrease CO2 emissions from previous cropland production by 136 metric tons and sequester 332 metric tons of carbon over the first twenty years, for a net decrease in carbon emissions of 468 metric tons. This project will benefit the surrounding agricultural community by providing a source of pollinators to increase the yield and quality of their crops, providing a boost in production and economic growth. It will also benefit Orange County by providing an educational resource for the roughly 10,000 annual visitors to the preserve, nearly 500 annual students in our educational programs and camps, and a minimum of 50 unique annual volunteers. Through our strong partnership with Title One schools who serve a majority of low-income and BIPOC students, we actively recruit students and provide need-based scholarships to low-income families to attend our camps and programs. 3. Please choose the best description for the type of project*: *The Background and Information document provides examples. ☐ Clean Energy Infrastructure - New ☐ Clean Energy Infrastructure - Repair ☐ Clean Energy Infrastructure - Replacement ☐ Communication/Education ☒ Nature Based Solutions ☐ Waste Reduction/Circular Economy ☐ Analysis/Plan ☐ Other (Please describe): 4. Please choose the primary climate change mitigation focus for this project (select all that apply): ☐ Energy Efficiency ☐ Renewable Energy ☐ Beneficial Electrification ☒ Carbon Sequestration ☐ Other (Please describe): Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 9 of 24 5. Please select the jurisdiction(s) where your project is focused and briefly state how your project aligns with the relevant Climate Action Plans (2-4 sentences): Please name the action items from each relevant plan that best align with your proposed project. ☐ Carrboro: https://townofcarrboro.org/928/Community-Climate- Action-Plan ☐ Chapel Hill: https://www.sustainchapelhill.org/featured/2020/2/18/climate-action- and-response-plan ☒ Orange County: https://www.orangecountync.gov/3096/Climate- Action-Plan This proposed project aligns with the above plan(s) in the following ways: This project supports several Green Community Goals in Orange County’s Climate Action Plan including replacing highly maintained areas with pollinator gardens and native grasses and providing a showcase and educational materials around how to implement at residential or commercial spaces (related to Goal GC 1.3); increasing tree canopy (Goal GC 2); promote sustainable agriculture (related to Goal GC 3); broaden outreach and resources to better support the sustainable agricultural industry (related to Goal GC 5); broaden outreach and resources to better support the community (Goal GC 6, specifically GC 6.1); conserve important natural and cultural resources to improve the natural environment through protection and linkage of lands and stream protection (Goal GC 6.3); and promote climate resilience education and awareness (Goal CR 5). Criterion 1 - Social Justice and Racial Equity This criterion has a maximum score of 6 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). 6. Who will directly or indirectly benefit from your project? Please be as specific as possible on the characteristics of those who will benefit including, gender, race, age, income level and geographic location. Also, what are the demographics of the area where your project takes place? Does your project help to address any racial disparities in the location it is proposed for? Please list any data sources used and show the steps of any calculations. The Confluence Natural Area is located within a rural farming community in northern Orange County between Hillsborough and Cedar Grove. The areas directly to the west, north, and south of the preserve fall within 50-80 National percentile for low-income households and people of color. The community of Efland, just a seven-minute drive from the preserve, falls within 90-95 national percentile for low-income households (EPA EJScreen). The preserve has a visitation of over 10,000 people per year from communities across the Triangle. The conversion of the agricultural fields to Piedmont prairie and forest will serve as both an educational tool for visitors and students and as a source of pollinators for the surrounding agricultural lands. This project will engage visitors with demonstration space Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 10 of 24 and educational signage discussing the benefits of Piedmont prairies and reforestation and how these types of ecosystems can be created in their backyards. These ecosystems will be used as sites for educational opportunities for school groups, our Eno Climate Champions program, and our summer Field Station camp. To ensure we reach a diverse audience for our programming, we focus our efforts on partnering with Title One schools who serve the majority of low-income and BIPOC students. Through these partnerships, we actively recruit students with an interest in science and the outdoors to attend our summer camp programming. We provide need-based scholarships to low-income families for their children to attend our camps. The surrounding farming communities will benefit from this project due to the increase in pollinator species associated with Piedmont prairies and diverse forests. Pollinators play a significant role in the production of more than 150 food crops in the United States, and studies have found that pollination enhances the yield and quality of a variety of important economic crops. Most of this economic benefit is attributed to pollination by wild bees (Piedmont Environmental Council). Additionally, a study from NC State University and published in Frontiers for Ecology and Evolution found that there was an increase in bee abundance and diversity with high quality early successional habitats which has positive impacts to North Carolina ecologically and economically. Agriculture in North Carolina is huge, accounting for one fifth of the state’s workforce and an economic impact of $103.2 billion, according to a 2023 report from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Positive farmland production impacts of pollinators from the rich, restored habitats at the Confluence Natural Area will be seen in this local community, many of whom fall below the National 50th percentile for low-income households and people of color. 7. Please describe any ways in which low‐income or marginalized communities/households were engaged in the creation of this project proposal. This project was born out of our strategic conservation planning effort conducted in 2023-2024. ERA conducted a comprehensive community outreach initiative, aimed at engaging a broad Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 11 of 24 spectrum of community members from Durham and Orange counties, which was designed to foster inclusivity and gather diverse input on local environmental priorities. We collected survey data from over 500 Festival for the Eno 2023 attendees and conducted three focused community meetings. The outcome of these meetings was inspiring, with 265 attendees contributing to the curation of 32 maps adorned with 705 opportunity dots, alongside over a thousand cards filled with ideas and suggestions. Twenty percent of respondents (surveys and meetings) identified as people of color. The engagement process highlighted a shared vision for enhancing natural beauty, recreational activities, cultural and historical significance, community connections, and accessibility to nature. This project is meeting the needs identified from that process. 8. Please describe any potential negative side effects of the project and describe the steps you are taking/will take to eliminate or minimize these impacts to any low‐income or marginalized communities/households. One potential negative side effect of creating or stewarding a fire-maintained ecosystem is the health impacts that smoke can have on sensitive populations, particularly people with pre-existing health conditions, children, and elderly people. Because health conditions such as asthma often occur at higher rates among low-income and marginalized communities, it is especially important to properly manage smoke from prescribed burns and communicate with people who live or work nearby. While the Confluence Natural Area is in a portion of Orange County where population density is low, Eno River Association will still take care to identify any smoke-sensitive areas, including residences, within the expected distance of smoke dispersal, and prescribed burns will only be conducted on days when wind impact will be low and carry smoke away from these areas. Additionally, we will notify by mail all the property owners within one mile of the Confluence Natural Area to ensure that they are able to discuss any concerns about prescribed burning with ERA staff. Previous efforts to alert neighbors for burning in the Confluence Natural Area did not raise community concerns. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 12 of 24 9. Are the impacted residents already aware of the potential positive and negative impacts of your project and the steps you are taking? If not, please describe your plan to engage with them and how you will act based on their input. We plan to host a community information session at the Confluence prior to the start of this project. This will give the local community an opportunity to ask questions about our work as well as provide us with guidance on the community's needs as it relates to this project. We hope to partner with local farmers that may benefit from these pollinator habitats. One such farm is Sankofa Farm where we intend to engage with them to see if our preserve would be a good location for their growing honeybee operation. To establish and maintain the Piedmont prairies, we will be conducting prescribed burns every two to three years. Prior to the burns, we will send postcards to neighbors within a one-mile radius informing them of the scheduled prescribed burn and providing them with educational information about burns and contact information if they have questions. We will also add educational information to the kiosk at the Confluence and the Eno River Association’s website, socials, and newsletters about the work we are doing at the Confluence. 10. During and after the project, what will your continued engagement with the impacted community be? In 2023, we hired our first Community Engagement Manager. This position is responsible for engaging with communities in Durham and Orange counties with a particular focus on underserved and underrepresented communities. Engagement with the local farming community, with a focus on indigenous and farmers of color, will continue with our Community Engagement Manager in hopes to establish a trusting relationship and potential partnerships. 11. Please describe any other aspect of your project that is relevant to Social Justice, Environmental Justice and Racial Equity. The Confluence Natural Area is partially contained within the Occaneechi-Saponi State Designated Tribal Statistical Area. This land is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Eno, Shakori, Sissipahaw, Occaneechi, other people of Siouan descent, and their descendants, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. Piedmont prairies or southern grasslands were once a large part of the Piedmont. These landscapes were formed by grazing large herbivores such as elk and bison and by fire. A significant proportion of fires were started and controlled by the Indigenous population. Fire has been used as an agricultural management tool Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 13 of 24 worldwide, to clear tracks, flush out game, control insect pests and restrict the regrowth of forests. One of the goals of the Eno River Association and this project is to learn from and reinstate these practices in our landscape. With our growing relationship fostered by our Community Partners Manager, we intend to continue to connect and collaborate with the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation on this project. Criterion 2 - Emissions Reduced This criterion has a maximum score of 4 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). Please see the Grant Project website for estimation tools and the Background and Information document for information about technical assistance. Applicants are encouraged to ask for clarification and technical assistance as early as possible and no later than the posted deadline for questions. 12. How many tons of greenhouse gas emissions will your project reduce/avoid each year? Please list any data sources used and show the steps of any calculations. Feel free to submit in a separate document if clearly labeled. We used Michigan State University’s US Cropland Greenhouse Gas Calculator to estimate a 3-year average of the greenhouse gas emissions per acre for the fields intended for reforestation or conversion to Piedmont prairie. For the 8.6-acre field planned for reforestation, which was only recently acquired, we believe the crops planted rotated between corn and soybeans. The 14.2-acre field planned for Piedmont prairie conversion has primarily been used for hay, so we used the “switchgrass” category in the calculator. Average January low temperature, July high temperature, and annual rainfall were entered based on USA.com’s Orange County Weather page. The soil clay content was estimated at 30%, about average for the Georgeville clay loam found at the Confluence. Soil bulk density and initial carbon soil carbon were left at the default values of 1.4 g/cm3 and 0.5%, respectively. Based on these estimates, by ceasing agriculture on the field to be reforested, the emission of roughly 2.5 metric tons of CO2 equivalent will be avoided each year. The emission of roughly 4.5 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year will be avoided by ceasing agriculture on the field intended for conversion to Piedmont prairie. We used the University of New Mexico’s formula to estimate CO2 sequestration for the field to be reforested. To estimate carbon sequestered per year, we estimated that trees grow roughly 0.2 inches per year in diameter and 1.5 feet per year in height based on resources from the US Forest Service and Nebraska Forest Service providing average growth rates for northern red oak (Quercus rubra). We estimate that trees will be planted with a 20 foot by 20 foot spacing, for a total of roughly 1300 seedlings planted in the 8.6-acre field. We estimated that roughly 20% of these seedlings may die. Based on these parameters, the reforested field is estimated to Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 14 of 24 sequester roughly 0.2 metric tons of CO2 in the first year after planting, 0.3 in the second year, onward for a total of 2.2 metric tons over the first 5 years and 48 metric tons over the first 20 years, with 5.9 tons being sequestered in the 20th year alone. This estimate includes only carbon sequestered by the trees planted as a part of this project, and does not account for additional sequestration by herbaceous plants and trees expected to naturally set seed and grow as a part of the reforestation process. Carbon sequestration in prairie systems is less thoroughly studied than in forests, but estimates of carbon sequestration in prairie systems seem to range from 0.3 to 1.7 metric tons per acre, although it is not clear whether the estimate of 0.3 metric tons per acre refers to the amount of carbon sequestered or the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent - if it refers to the amount of carbon, that amounts to roughly 1.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalent sequestered per acre per year. For our estimate, we used a value of 1 metric ton of CO2 sequestered per acre per year for a prairie system. To maintain the prairie restoration field, it will need to be mowed using a tractor once or twice per year. This is expected to take no more than 4 hours per round of mowing. At the low end of typical efficiency for a 50-horsepower tractor (2.5 gallons/hour, or 0.05 gallons/horsepower- hour), this mowing would consume about 20 gallons of diesel annually, emitting 203.8 kilograms, or 0.2 metric tons, of CO2. Because much of 2025 will be used to prepare the site for planting, carbon sequestration by the prairie will not begin until 2026. In 2026, the 14.2-acre prairie is expected to sequester around 14.2 metric tons of CO2, with that same amount being sequestered in each consecutive year for a total of roughly 71 metric tons over the first five years following conversion and 284 metric tons over the first twenty years. Taken altogether, the Confluence Natural Area will see a net decrease in CO2 emissions of 6.8 metric tons in the first year of the project, 21.3 metric tons in the second year, 107.2 metric tons over the first five years, and 468 metric tons over the first twenty years. Because these estimates use fairly conservative values for estimated tree growth and prairie carbon sequestration, it is possible that CO2 emissions reductions will be even greater. 13. Over how many years will this emissions reduction take place as a result of your project? Please consider the expected lifetime of the technology/program/impact, etc. Emissions from the two restoration fields at the Confluence Natural Area will change from positive to negative within the first year and a half of the project as agriculture ceases, and the planted trees and prairie plants begin to grow. As described above, the emissions reduction via carbon sequestration from this project is expected to occur continuously and indefinitely, although carbon sequestration may plateau slightly as the planted Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 15 of 24 trees reach a larger size and begin to sequester less carbon annually. The same is true for the Piedmont prairie restoration field, which is expected to sequester similar amounts of carbon each year indefinitely by trapping it in the soil and soil organisms. 14. Please describe the location of the emissions reduction. Where would fossil fuels have been burned if not for your project? For projects that reduce electricity usage or that generate solar energy, feel free to state “grid-tied electricity reduction” if you cannot determine the location of emissions produced from electric power generation. While CO2 emissions from the production of herbicide and fertilizer used for agriculture would not have occurred in Orange County, the other CO2 emissions associated with agricultural production, such as carbon lost from soil, nitrous oxide emissions from soil bacteria, and burning of fuel to operate farm equipment, all occur on-site at the Confluence Natural Area. By ceasing agriculture at the Confluence and restoring prairie and forest ecosystems, CO2 emissions are reduced, and carbon sequestration is increased in northern Orange County. 15. Please describe any other aspect of your project that is relevant to the amount of emissions that it will reduce or avoid. By purchasing a tractor which will remain at the Confluence, we will see a small emissions reduction associated with avoiding the transportation of a tractor from another location. Because we do not know the home addresses where contracted farmers have transported tractors from, we did not estimate this reduction in the calculated CO2 emissions for the project. Criterion 3 - Efficient Use of Funds This criterion has a maximum score of 4 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). Please estimate the impact of your project per grant dollar requested. The cost per unit of impact must reflect the total program budget divided by the total impact of the project described in this application. If the proposed project is new, please write N/A in the Actual Annual Project Costs column of the table below, and just fill out the last column. Please see the Grant Project website for further guidance and the Background and Information document for information about technical assistance. Applicants are encouraged to ask for clarification and technical assistance as early as possible and no later than the posted deadline for questions. Example Actual Annual Project Costs (If your proposed project expands or accelerates an ongoing effort) Projected Project Costs Total Cost of Project $3,765 $6,150 $71,823 Unit of Impact: Total # of metric tons of greenhouse gases reduced 44 metric tons CO2e/year 1.8 metric tons CO2e/year 19.9 metric tons CO2e/year (average of first 5 years) Cost Per Metric Ton of GHG’s Reduced $3,765/44 = $86/metric ton $6,150/1.8 = $3417/metric ton $73,800/19.9 = $3,708.50/metric ton Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 16 of 24 Unit of Impact: Total # of individuals served/benefitted 8,840 individuals/year 5,070 individuals/year (half of visitors to account for repeat visitors, plus Field Station summer camp attendance) 5,370 individuals/year (previous number with added half the number of farms in Orange County) Cost Per Individual Served/Benefitted $3,765/8,840 = $0.43/individual $6,150/5,070 = $1.21/individual $73,800/5,370 = $13.74/individual Other Unit of Impact: Please describe here N/A N/A N/A Cost Per Unit of Impact N/A N/A N/A Other Unit of Impact: Please describe here N/A N/A N/A Cost Per Unit of Impact N/A N/A N/A (Please feel free to add rows if necessary to show any additional units of impact.) 16. Please describe any avoided financial costs or savings related to the project and over what period of time those costs will be avoided/reduced. By purchasing a tractor, Eno River Association avoids greater costs in the future associated with renting or contracting to maintain the Piedmont prairie at the Confluence Natural Area, in addition to the costs saved for the initial application of seed for the prairie. Because the tractor purchased will have limited use relative to those used for full-time agriculture, its lifespan is expected to exceed 50 years. This project will also utilize volunteers for much of the required labor, including the planting and maintenance of the reforestation field, some maintenance of the Piedmont prairie, and much of the preparation for and execution of prescribed burns. Both costs will be avoided over the first few years of project implementation and maintenance. 17. Does your project accelerate or expand on existing programs that already show positive impact? This project expands on the conversion of a 1.8-acre field into Piedmont prairie that began in 2024 with a prescribed burn. We have already seen increased resources for birds and pollinators in this field, including milkweed (Asclepias sp.) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), in addition to the carbon sequestration from this prairie. This project also builds on the reforestation of a section of a bottomland field at the Confluence Natural Area in 2018, where roughly 50 trees were planted and have successfully established. 18. Does your project take advantage of other funding sources? The prescribed burn conducted at the Confluence Natural Area in 2024 to begin the conversion of a 1.8-acre field to Piedmont prairie was funded in part by a $5,000 grant from the New Hope Bird Alliance, and the equipment purchased for this burn will be used for future burns to maintain the restored Piedmont prairie. Eno River Association will also be applying for a $1,000 grant from NC Native Plant Society to cover some of the costs of this project. The remainder of the costs associated with the project will be covered by private donations to the Eno River Association. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 17 of 24 19. Would your proposed project help you to take advantage of funding from other sources besides this grant in the future? By using funds from the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant for the initial costs of this project, such as a tractor and materials for plantings, Eno River Association will be able to support the maintenance of the Piedmont prairie and reforestation field from its operations budget. Additionally, the restoration of native ecosystems at the Confluence, in addition to their function in carbon sequestration, may be an additional motivator for individuals' donations to Eno River Association, which are an essential source of funding. 20. Please describe any other aspect of your project that is relevant to the efficient use of grant funds. Criterion 4 - Capacity of Applicant This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). 21. a. Has your organization completed projects of this type in the past? b. If so, what funds were used? ☒ Yes - Reforestation ☐ No ☒ Funding used (Please describe): Grant funding from the NC Land and Water Fund, We Plant It Forward, Burt’s Bees Foundation, and Durham Open Space and Trails Commission. Operational funding and volunteer support has been used to implement the projects. 22. Please provide a brief description of similar past achievements or projects and evidence of successfully meeting proposed budgets and timetables (2-4 sentences). The Eno River Association has led several successful reforestation projects in our long history. Our most recent reforestation projects have included efforts in 2015 and 2018 in tree planting across a portion of a previous agriculture field in the bottomlands of the Confluence. The trees have been maintained through mowing and watering by volunteers and staff over the last six years since the last planting and are now stable enough to require less maintenance. These projects were funded by the North Carolina Water Management Trust Fund and We Plant it Forward. 23. If you are proposing to collaborate with other organizations on this project, please briefly describe their relevant experience to the project and/or the target population. For prairie restoration, prescribed burning will require collaboration with the local fire department and NC Forest Service, as well as the Triangle Prescribed Burn Association for both expertise and rental of equipment throughout the duration of the burn. Though ERA staff has one certified burner on staff and increased fire equipment supply in the previous year, we will require more equipment and trained personnel to safely conduct a burn. For expertise on prairie conversion and burning, we collaborated with Bluestem Community NC and Prairie Ridge Eco-station to learn about their successes and lessons learned and will continue to collaborate as we move through this process. Reforestation efforts in previous projects have been done in collaboration with We Plant it Forward and North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF). We will collaborate with either or both of these Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 18 of 24 organizations for further expertise, and potentially with NCWF for collaborative volunteer days to utilize their volunteer base, in addition to ERA’s, for planting efforts. Both organizations have significant experience in reforestation, proven as we have collaborated with both in previous efforts. 24. a. Have your collaborators/partners completed projects of this type in the past? b. If so, what funds were used? ☒ Yes ☐ No ☒ Funding used (Please describe): Bluestem Community NC used private donations and operational funding to establish their Piedmont Prairie. Prairie Ridge Eco-station is State- owned, operated, and funded. NCWF and We Plant It Forward operate on grants and private donations. 25. Please describe any other relevant expertise or capacity to carry out the project in your application. ERA staff have recently grown in their capacity to conduct prescribed burns through our Land Stewardship Manager’s completion of the NC Forest Service Prescribed Burner certification. This has increased internal capacity to streamline the creation of burn management plans and implementation of the prescribed burns. We will turn to local partner organizations, Bluestem Community NC and Prairie Ridge Eco-station, for their expertise in prairie restoration. All our stewardship project implementations are made possible through extensive use of our strong volunteer pool. We will utilize volunteers throughout much of the implementation stages of this project, including prescribed burns for building fire lines and keeping watch, prairie restoration for seeding, and reforestation for planting and general maintenance needs. 26. Please describe any prior challenges you have encountered in past grants and how you have worked through them. How may this impact this proposed project? Given that much of our work is focused on nature-based solutions, we can face challenges with timelines on projects due to weather conditions. Environmental conditions have postponed our projects in the past, making our projects take longer than expected. For this project, we plan to account for potential weather-related delays and expand our projected timeline. Some potential delays could be unsuitable weather conditions for the prescribed burn or planting. 27. Please describe one to three key partnerships/ collaborations that add the most value to the success of the proposed project. ERA has a significant opportunity for growth through conducting our first prairie restoration project. Becoming versed in this effort and turning to key partners, such as Bluestem Community NC, for their expertise on this matter will allow us to successfully complete this project and conduct similar projects of the like in the future. Bluestem Community NC is a local partner located a short distance away from the Confluence Natural Area, also in Orange County. Their successful efforts in prairie conversion will allow us to learn from their successes and lessons learned in previous attempts. Triangle Prescribed Burn Association (TPBA) is a group of like-minded Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 19 of 24 individuals in the Triangle across five counties (Orange, Alamance, Person, Durham, and Chatham) that come together to use fire as a tool for ‘Best Management Practices’ to restore the land and to advocate for the use of prescribed fire across the landscape. TPBA is led by the NC Cooperative Extension. By having TPBA as a partner, we will increase our capacity and expertise to conduct prescribed burns on these project areas at the Confluence. 28. If this project is not selected for funding in this round, what other funding might be used to support it within the next 5 years? ☒ Other capital or operational funds (and seek additional grant funding) ☐ None. This is a unique opportunity. ☐ Unknown (please describe): Criterion 5 - Local Economic Development This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). 29. How many Orange County residents are employed by your organization? 3 30. What project materials will be purchased from sources within Orange County or North Carolina? What percent of the total materials do these represent? For prairie restoration, seeds will be purchased primarily from North Carolina suppliers, including Mellow Marsh Farm and Garrett Seed Company. For reforestation efforts, trees will be sourced locally. Trees for this project will be sourced most likely as seedlings from NC Forest Service or tublings from Mellow Marsh, a locally owned wholesale plant nursery located in Chatham County. We will work with a local contractor for the application of herbicide to the prairie restoration field. We also hope to find a tractor for sale locally, thus supporting an Orange County dealer. In addition, we will rent a native seed drill from Orange County. Over 90% of the funds for this project will be spent within North Carolina. If a suitable tractor is available for sale in Orange County, then roughly 75% of the project materials will be purchased in the county. 31. Please describe any other aspect of your project that is relevant to local economic development. The burning portion of prairie restoration allows for the opportunity to rent equipment and contract burn experts to work alongside our staff from local organizations such as Triangle Prescribed Burn Association or Wildland Forestry LLC. In previous burns, we have also worked with the local fire department for management of the prescribed burn and use of equipment such as water tanks. Once prairie restoration is complete, it is likely we will be able to contract local farmers to utilize the space for income through beekeeping. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 20 of 24 Criterion 6 - Amount and Duration of Engagement This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). 32. Please briefly describe the target population to benefit from the project. There are multiple target populations to benefit from this project, one of which is the local farming community. As previously described, rich early successional habitats increase pollinators that positively benefit agricultural production. This is important in this area due to the surrounding agricultural lands. Another target population is the visitors to the Confluence Natural Area. Visitors will experience the rich, dynamic habitats created by the project. They will learn about the benefits of reforestation and early successional habitats such as the Piedmont prairie. Through both passive and active learning, visitors will learn about the vast benefits of these habitats and how they might establish these habitats in their backyards. Lastly, a target population are students at both our 2-week summer Field Station camp and through our school program partnerships. Our education team has partnered with several schools in Hillsborough to bring students out to our preserves to learn about the rich habitats that exist there. Our summer Field Station camp introduces burgeoning scientists to different fields of study and takes place on site at the Confluence Natural Area for exposure to ERA’s environmental efforts. The Piedmont prairie and the restored forestland will be used in the programming for both the camp and the school programming. 33. How many people will benefit from your project? The Confluence Natural Area has over 10,000 visitors annually. Our Field Station summer camp engages 78 students annually. We estimate an additional 400 students educated through our school partnership program. We estimate a minimum of 50 unique volunteers with many returning engaged in the creation and maintenance of this project annually. We will use our communication outlets to educate folks about this project. Our social media outlets have over 28,000 followers and our e-newsletter reaches over 18,000 people. Lastly, while we don’t have an exact number of farms in the immediate area, we do know there are over 600 farms in Orange County. We expect a subset of these 600 will benefit from this project. 34. Please describe how you will engage with and/or educate project participants and/or the community. The Confluence Natural Area is a publicly accessible preserve visited by 10,000 annually. It also hosts our two-week Field Station summer camp for students ages 12-15 and school programs and hikes led by our educational staff. Passive engagement will include educational signage discussing the benefits and history of Piedmont prairies and how these communities can be used in residential landscapes. Active engagement will include educational programming for camps, school groups, community groups, and hikes discussing the history and importance - ecologically and economically - of these rich habitats. We will engage community members in the installation and maintenance of the Piedmont prairies and the restored forest habitat. This will include the Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 21 of 24 planting of the trees in the restoration field. We host nearly 50 volunteer workdays each year to maintain the ecological and recreational open spaces within our watershed and this project will be the focus for the timeframe of this project. Lastly, we plan to continually communicate with our community through social media, newsletters, and events held at the Confluence. 35. How will you measure the success of that engagement or educational effort? We track the number of visitors to the Confluence with a car counter and the number of program participants with attendance. We will measure success with increases in visitation during and after the establishment of these new habitats. We track the amount of engagement with our social posts and links in e-newsletters and open rates. We track other community engagement by number and community type. We will measure success by increases in these types of engagement. Lastly, we will qualitatively measure the success of our programming around these new habitats with surveys to our program participants. To assess the effectiveness of our restoration efforts in creating habitat, we will use observations, particularly of birds and insects, on iNaturalist and eBird. These observations contribute to a species inventory for the Confluence Natural Area, and we can use changes in this inventory over time to identify increases in populations of species which rely on the new habitats created by this project. In addition, we can monitor the health of the restored ecosystems to verify that they are successfully sequestering carbon. For the reforestation site, this will involve assessment of the growth of the planted trees, as well as any “volunteer” seedlings from the surrounding forest. For the prairie site, this will involve monitoring plant diversity and abundance to ensure that the cycles of growth among prairie plants are functioning as expected. 36. Please describe any other aspect of your project that is relevant to the amount, or quality, or length of engagement and/or education that your project will produce. Educational programming will include the benefits of these habitats on climate resilience, carbon sequestration, and species diversity and abundance. We will incorporate the historical and cultural uses of these habitats, and we hope to do that in partnership with the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. Programming will include how these rich habitats not only have ecological benefits but economic benefits. For all our programs, we work to reach diverse communities to ensure equity and inclusion. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 22 of 24 Criterion 7 - Time to Complete This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). 37. How much time will your project require to demonstrate the positive impacts you describe? While we anticipate continuing positive impacts from this project in perpetuity, we expect to see positive impacts within two years following commencement of the project. At this stage, we will have completed tree plantings, and the Piedmont prairie restoration site will have been seeded and begun to see growth from the native species planted there. Based on observations from Bluestem Conservation Cemetery, restored Piedmont prairie sites begin to attract both wildlife and visitors within two years, as flowers begin to bloom, and native plants provide food and habitat for insects, birds, and other native fauna. It is important to note that, while impacts are expected to be noticeable within two years, this project is anticipated to have a increasing effect over time as trees grow larger and native Piedmont prairie plants continue to make contributions not only to carbon sequestration, but to the health of the soil and water of Orange County. The importance of these long-term effects is even greater in light of climate change, habitat fragmentation, and pollution, which make intact native ecosystems rarer every day. Submission Guidance Applications are to be submitted as email attachments to Orange County Sustainability at sustainability@orangecountync.gov. Please also CC the lead staff member supporting the Commission for the Environment, Wesley Poole at wpoole@orangecountync.gov. The Application Submittal Deadline for the Fiscal Year 24-25 round of the Community Climate Action Grant is Friday, August 16, 2024 at 5pm. Please note that late, handwritten, or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Submit all documents including attachments in PDF format. This will ensure the original content and formatting is preserved. Digital signatures on applications are accepted. Accommodations for applicants with disabilities or those in need of technical assistance are available upon request. Please contact Orange County Sustainability at 919-245-2626 or sustainability@orangecountync.gov to discuss what is needed. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 23 of 24 Attachments Description of Required Attachments a) Applicant Organization’s Budget and Project Budget Please complete the provided budget worksheets for your organization and your proposed project or submit your own budget file (as long as it contains the same information, and in a similar format, as requested in the provided worksheets. Please explain other in your budget). The Budget Worksheets file is available for download from the County website here. Please submit the budget in PDF form and in the original editable Excel format. b) IRS Federal Form 990 or 2023 Tax Returns A copy of the applicant organization’s most recent Form 990 or IRS Tax Returns is required to determine eligibility. The spec ific form depends upon the applicant organization’s financial activity. Review the IRS’ guide, for more details. For Form 990-N (e- postcard) filers, include a copy of the postcard, with the organization’s application materials. c) IRS Federal Form 990 or 2023 Tax Returns for collaborator/partner (if they are receiving project funds) A copy of the collaborator/partner’s most recent Form 990 or IRS Tax Returns is required to determine eligibility. The specific form depends upon the organization’s financial activity. Review the IRS’ guide, for more details. For Form 990-N (e-postcard) filers, include a copy of the postcard, with the organization’s application materials. d) List of Board of Directors (if applicable) Provide the following information about each member of the board of directors: name, telephone number, and address. The list must identify the principal officers of the governing body and the length of term. Please feel free to use the template provided in Table 2 of the appendix or your own format. e) Certificate of Liability Insurance A copy of the applicant organization’s current certificate, from the organization’s insurance carrier. Table 1 below outlines insurance types and minimums required, for each jurisdiction. If exempt from Worker’s Compensation compliance, include a statement explaining why, with the applicant organization’s application materials. NOTE: Proof of insurance is not required at the time of application submission. If your agency is approved for funding, documentation of insurance must be provided to the jurisdiction awarding the funding when the contract is awarded. The insurance certificate should reflect the funding jurisdiction as an additional insured party and certificate holder and provide coverage for the duration of the funding period (two years, beginning as early as October 1, 2024). If proof of insurance can only be written for one year, an update will be required for all ongoing projects. Renewal certificates must be sent to the jurisdiction 30 days prior to any expiration date, cancellation or modification of any stipulated insurance coverage. NOTE: Upon request, insurance requirements may be reviewed on a case by case basis by the County. Please contact the staff identified on the Submission Requirements on Page 12 if you have questions or would like to request a review of your insurance requirements. Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Page 24 of 24 Appendix Table 1. Forms of Liability Insurance and Minimum Policy Amounts Required INSURANCE ORANGE COUNTY3 Worker's Compensation1 Limits for Coverage A - Statutory State NC, for each employee Limits for Coverage B - Employers Liability of: $500,000 each accident, $500,000 Bodily Injury by Disease (BID).for each employee $500,000 for BID limit Commercial General Liability $1 million Each Occurrence $2 million Aggregate Automobile Liability $1 million Each Occurrence Professional Liability $1 million Each Occurrence $2 million Aggregate Sexual Abuse & Molestation $1 million Each Occurrence $2 million Aggregate Cyber Liability $1 million Each Occurrence $2 million Aggregate Environmental/Pollution Liability (Required if demolition, use of hazardous material or environmentally sensitive) $1 million Each Occurrence ▪ Visit the NC Industrial Commission’s website for more information regarding Coverage A. Also, note that if an agency uses subcontractors, it must require subcontractors to have workmen’s compensation insurance. ▪ Please visit Orange County’s Risk Management page for more information about the County’s Minimum Insurance Requirements. Table 2 - Contact Information for Board of Directors and Officers of the Board Name (also title and term length if Officer) Physical Address Mailing Address Phone number Email address Fax number (if applicable) Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Actual Total for Previous Year Estimated Total for Current Year Projected Total for Next Year Percent Change 571,924$ 458,744$ 600,000$ 31% 346,826$ 399,000$ 430,000$ 8% 9,408$ 22,040$ 25,000$ 13% 44,447$ -$ 35,000$ 0 Orange County Community Climate Action Grant -$ 67,600$ 0 24025 57,304$ 65,000$ 13% -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ 59,184$ 60,000.00$ 0.01$ -$ -$ -$ 0 Private Foundation Grants 301,953.00$ 78,000.00$ 80,000.00$ 0.03$ Other Revenue: Bequest income; Ed program income; interest 34570 390000 110943 0.08$ 1,333,153$ 1,464,271$ 1,473,543$ 1% 716,175$ 856,547$ 882,243$ 3% 19,300$ 19,050$ 19,300$ 1% 36,963$ 51,745$ 55,000$ 6% 17,500$ 15,850$ 17,000$ 7% 583,026$ 480,011$ 500,000$ 4% 1,372,964$ 1,423,203$ 1,473,543$ 4% (39,811)$ 41,068$ -$ -100%SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR PERIOD: Total Organization Revenue Total Agency Expenses AGENCY EXPENSES Compensation Rent & Utilities Supplies & Equipment Travel & Training Other Expenses: Festival production; rental property; calendar prod; outreach; program expenses ORGANIZATION REVENUE Private Donations: NOTE - $350,000 bequest included for FY2024 Generated Revenue (fees, sales, etc) Local Government Grants (Please list separately): Durham County City of Durham Central Pines Regional Council Other Government Grants Triangle United Way State Government: NC Department of Revenue Federal Government (CDBG/HOME/etc.) Applicant Organization's Budget (Most recent complete calendar year or fiscal year) Starting date: January 1, 2024 Ending Date: December 31, 2024 ORGANIZATION NAME:Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, INC. (dba Eno River Association) FY 2018-19 Agency Budget Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Use for all projects Actual Total for Previous Year Estimated Total for Current Year Projected Total for Next Year Percent Change -$ 1,300$ 5,200$ 300% -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ -$ 67,600$ 0 -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ -$ -$ 0 Private Foundation Grants -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ 5,000$ 1,000$ (0.80)$ -$ 6,300$ 73,800$ 1071% -$ 1,500$ 4,800$ 220% -$ -$ -$ 0 -$ 4,000$ 63,100$ 1478% -$ 150$ 400$ 167% -$ 650$ 5,500$ 746% -$ 6,300$ 73,800$ 1071% -$ -$ -$ 0SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR PERIOD: Other Revenue: New Hope Bird Alliance Small Grants Program current year, NC Native Plant Other Expenses: prescribed burn contractor for past year, herbicide application contractor and seed drill rental for projected costs Total Project Expenses Total Project Revenue PROJECT EXPENSES Compensation Rent & Utilities Supplies & Equipment Travel & Training Project Generated Revenue: Local Government Grants (Please list separately): Orange County Community Climate Action Grant Other Government Grants Triangle United Way State Government Federal Government (CDBG/HOME/etc.) PROJECT REVENUE Private Donations Proposed Project Budget PROJECT NAME:Nature-based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area Use only if project is ongoing FY 2018-19 Program Budget Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date:December 10, 2024 Action Agenda Item No. 6-b SUBJECT: Community Climate Action Grant (CCAG) –FY 2024-25 Project Selection DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): 1. CCAG 2024-25 Project Descriptions, Scoring and Comments 2. CCAG Project Status Summary Including Estimated Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Reductions INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Eckberg,(919) 245-2626 PURPOSE: To: 1. Receive the grant project funding recommendations from the Commission for the Environment (CFE) and the overall scores and comments from the CFE and Human Relations Commission (HRC) for the FY 2024-25 Orange County Community Climate Action Grant Program; and 2. Approve funding for the recommended Community Climate Action Grant projects for FY 2024-25 as outlined in the table below and further described in Attachment 1. BACKGROUND: As part of the FY 2019-20 budget, the Orange County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) established the Orange County Climate Action Fund to accelerate climate change mitigation efforts within the County. This initiative was motivated in part by the Board’s ambitious climate goals, including a full transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The recently adopted Climate Action Plan establishes additional climate goals and outlines the actions and strategies that will enable Orange County to achieve these objectives, including the Community Climate Action Grant. For the FY 2024-25 funding cycle, $262,500 was allocated to general applicants to support climate action projects designed to benefit Orange County residents both socially and financially. The Board did not approve any climate funding for schools this year. In alignment with the Board of Commissioners’ direction, the selection process for awarding funds was conducted through the Community Climate Action Grant program. The Community Climate Action grant program received twenty-five (25) applications in this round from a variety of applicants representing nonprofits, small businesses and public organizations whose total requests added up to $1,151,873. Grant applications were completed over the summer and reviewed by both the Commission for the Environment (CFE) and the Human Relations Commission (HRC) in fall 2024. Each of these Commissions voted to forward their final scoring and comments to the BOCC. 1Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 The following is a rank-order summary table of the combined project scoring and recommendations for funding. More details on each project are available in Attachment 1. Rank Applicant Name Project Name Project Summary Amount Requested Recomme nded Funding level Total Score (out of 26) 1 Trees for the Triangle Shade for Schools Planting of 260 native trees and distribution of 2,600 seedlings across 13 schools in Orange County, prioritizing schools in rural, underserved areas $50,000 $50,000 22.1 2 Habitat for Humanity Rooftop Solar on Habitat Homes Rooftop solar on 14 newly constructed Habitat Homes $100,000 $50,000 21.7 3 Empowerment Peach Apartments Solar Project Elecrical panel box and labor for solar installation project $19,800 $19,800 20.9 4 Eno River Association Nature Based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area Conversion of 14.2‐acre agricultural field to Piedmont prairie and reforestation of an 8.6‐acre agricultural field. Includes purchase of equipment such as a $45,000 tractor. $67,600 $22,600 20.5 5 SolarEquity St. Joseph's CME Church Solar Project 23.4‐kW solar array on the roof of St. Joseph's CME Church $78,251 $50,000 19.1 6 Urban Sustainability Solutions Orange County Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program Installation of sustainable stormwater management measures in historically underserved communities utilizing public HS teachers and students in a certified green infrastructure training program to implement these measures $71,000 $58,100 18.6 7 Red Hawk Farm Farm Renewable Energy Infrastructure Hire consulting firm to provide engineering and design services for a REAP grant to install solar on farm; replace single phase with 3‐phase power to enable solar installation $100,000 $0 18.2 8 Town of Chapel Hill Extended Service and Key Equipment for E‐Bike Pilot Program E‐bike maintenance and management services to offer free e‐bike pilot program in Chapel Hill; funds will supplement federal funding received for this program to help it operate for an additional six months $57,165 $0 18.1 9 Community Home Trust Electrify 5 CHT homes with water heaters and heat pumps Replacement of gas water heaters with electric water heaters & gas furnace/electric air conditioners with electric heat pumps for 5 homes in Community Home Trust inventory $110,000 $0 17.8 10 Endswell The First Carbon Neutral Funeral Home Installation of a 40‐kW solar array $15,000 $0 17.6 11 Town of Carrboro Sustainable Transportation Pilot Purchase of e‐bikes, safety equipment, and storage to allow Town employees to replace most low‐cargo trips within two miles of each town building and a portion of trips beyond two miles $49,620 $0 17.5 2Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Rank Applicant Name Project Name Project Summary Amount Requested Recomme nded Funding level Total Score (out of 26) 12 Jubilee Healing Farm Cob Outdoor Classroom and Food Forest Construction of cob outdoor classroom and adjacent food forest $34,625 $12,000 17.2 13 Eno River Farmers’ Market Compost Monitor Compost monitor for Eno River Farmers' Market $4,800 $0 16.6 13 Town of Chapel Hill LED Lighting Upgrade for Hargraves Community Center Basketball Court Purchase and installation of new LED light fixtures to replace the existing, less efficient metal halide fixtures at the Hargraves Community Center outdoor basketball court $35,000 $0 16.6 15 Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health and Equity 1. Video Vignettes of Climate Health Principles in Clinical Practice; 2. Solar Arrays and Energy Offsets for Medically High‐Risk Residents 1. Production of bilingual videos on climate health to be used in clinical practice; 2. Planning for solar arrays to offset energy costs through renewable energy credits for medically high‐risk patients $64,850 $0 15.2 16 Parker Farm and Vineyard Carbon Sequestration through Pasture Establishment Transition 60 acres of intensively tilled row‐ cropped tobacco into permanent pasturelands for regenerative grazing $39,085 $0 15.1 17 Town of Carrboro Enhancing Resilience and Biodiversity: Rain Gardens at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Installation of two rain gardens in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to manage stormwater runoff, enhance local biodiversity, and contribute to education and outreach $50,000 $0 14.7 18 One Soil Farm Electric Vehicle and EV Charger for Produce Delivery Electric vehicle and EV charger for produce delivery $50,000 $0 14.7 19 The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter Energy Efficiency Initiative Installation of NFRC UV ray blocking films on all eastern and western exposure windows $10,000 $0 14.3 20 Kolibri Farm Cultivation, Cooking and Community Purchase of multiple electric appliances for kitchen, powered by solar array, as well as seeds, mower and drill for community garden $60,077 $0 14.0 21 Spring Crest Farms Solar Well Pump System Installation of solar well in remote area to reduce GHG and provide water for cattle $18,000 $0 12.4 22 Blawesome Sun Smart: Functional Shade Structure for Energy‐Efficient Cold Storage Installation of cold storage protective structure around existing cold storage unit to enhance its functionality and energy efficiency $15,000 $0 11.9 23 The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter Sustainable Landscape Project Installation of 20’ x 30’pollinator garden, two commercial grade rain barrels, a tri‐ section compost bin and bird feeding station $33,000 $0 11.2 3Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Rank Applicant Name Project Name Project Summary Amount Requested Recomme nded Funding level Total Score (out of 26) 24 Botanist and Barrel Rural Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation of a 2 port Level 2 EV charging station at a commercial site in Cedar Grove $12,000 $0 9.8 25 Fiori Hill ‐ Homeowner's Association Floating Wetlands in Fiori Hill SCM/Koi Pond Purchase floating wetlands and plants as part of SCM designed to sequester carbon, reduce algal growth, and eliminate the need for an aeration system $7,000 $0 9.0 Total Requested: Total: $1,151,873 $262,500 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $262,500 in funding for Community Climate Action Grants for FY 2024-25 is designed to identify and support impactful projects, with a focus on accelerating meaningful action on the urgent issue of climate change. ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:  GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION OBJECTIVE 1. Identify the priorities and resources necessary to implement the Climate Action Plan. OBJECTIVE 3. Improve educational opportunities for County staff and community members on climate action and available resources to advance climate action projects. OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.) RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Receive the grant project funding recommendations from the Commission for the Environment for the FY 2024-25 Orange County Community Climate Action Grant program; and 2. Approve funding for the recommended Community Climate Action Grant projects for FY 2024-25. 4Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 P.O. Box 8181 * Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Telephone: (919)245‐2625 Attachment 1 Date: December 10, 2024 To: Board of Orange County Commissioners From: Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Programs Manager RE: Orange County Community Climate Action Grant – Project Descriptions, Scoring, and Comments for General Applicants For the 2024‐25 funding cycle of the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant program, $262,500 in funding was budgeted to support climate action projects that benefit Orange County residents both socially and financially. In response to feedback from the Board in previous years, the Sustainability team enhanced its outreach efforts to publicize the grant opportunity, broadening the applicant pool and increasing community awareness of this impactful climate action program. Staff conducted targeted email campaigns directed at local businesses, community groups, and nonprofits. A specially designed infographic announcing the grant was shared widely through social media, Orange County TV screens, the County website, and the Orange County Weekly Happenings email newsletter. Additionally, staff presented at the annual Ag Summit, promoting both the County’s new Climate Action Plan and the Community Climate Action Grant program. New promotional signs were also created and displayed throughout County facilities during the summer, further highlighting the grant opportunity. As a result of these comprehensive outreach efforts, we received a record number of grant applications, including many from first‐time applicants! The Community Climate Action grant program received a total of 25 applications in this round from a variety of nonprofit groups, small businesses, and public organizations whose total requests added up to $1,151,873. Following the scoring and eligibility guidelines of the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC), the applications were reviewed and scored by the Commission for the Environment (CFE) and the Human Relations Commission (HRC). The BOCC asked the Human Relations Commission to score the applications on the Social Justice and Racial Equity criterion, as this pertains to their expertise and because the racial representation of the CFE as a whole does not reflect the racial diversity of Orange County. The following is a rank‐order summary table of the combined project scoring and recommendations. A full table showing the scores for each project on each of the 7 scoring elements is included in the Appendix. 5Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Rank Applicant Name Project Name Project Summary Amount Requested Recomme nded Funding level Total Score (out of 26) 1 Trees for the Triangle Shade for Schools Planting of 260 native trees and distribution of 2,600 seedlings across 13 schools in Orange County, prioritizing schools in rural, underserved areas $50,000 $50,000 22.1 2 Habitat for Humanity Rooftop Solar on Habitat Homes Rooftop solar on 14 newly constructed Habitat Homes $100,000 $50,000 21.7 3 Empowerment Peach Apartments Solar Project Elecrical panel box and labor for solar installation project $19,800 $19,800 20.9 4 Eno River Association Nature Based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area Conversion of 14.2‐acre agricultural field to Piedmont prairie and reforestation of an 8.6‐acre agricultural field. Includes purchase of equipment such as a $45,000 tractor. $67,600 $22,600 20.5 5 SolarEquity St. Joseph's CME Church Solar Project 23.4‐kW solar array on the roof of St. Joseph's CME Church $78,251 $50,000 19.1 6 Urban Sustainability Solutions Orange County Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program Installation of sustainable stormwater management measures in historically underserved communities utilizing public HS teachers and students in a certified green infrastructure training program to implement these measures $71,000 $58,100 18.6 7 Red Hawk Farm Farm Renewable Energy Infrastructure Hire consulting firm to provide engineering and design services for a REAP grant to install solar on farm; replace single phase with 3‐phase power to enable solar installation $100,000 $0 18.2 8 Town of Chapel Hill Extended Service and Key Equipment for E‐Bike Pilot Program E‐bike maintenance and management services to offer free e‐bike pilot program in Chapel Hill; funds will supplement federal funding received for this program to help it operate for an additional six months $57,165 $0 18.1 9 Community Home Trust Electrify 5 CHT homes with water heaters and heat pumps Replacement of gas water heaters with electric water heaters & gas furnace/electric air conditioners with electric heat pumps for 5 homes in Community Home Trust inventory $110,000 $0 17.8 10 Endswell The First Carbon Neutral Funeral Home Installation of a 40‐kW solar array $15,000 $0 17.6 11 Town of Carrboro Sustainable Transportation Pilot Purchase of e‐bikes, safety equipment, and storage to allow Town employees to replace most low‐cargo trips within two miles of each town building and a portion of trips beyond two miles $49,620 $0 17.5 12 Jubilee Healing Farm Cob Outdoor Classroom and Food Forest Construction of cob outdoor classroom and adjacent food forest $34,625 $12,000 17.2 13 Eno River Farmers’ Market Compost Monitor Compost monitor for Eno River Farmers' Market $4,800 $0 16.6 6Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Rank Applicant Name Project Name Project Summary Amount Requested Recomme nded Funding level Total Score (out of 26) 13 Town of Chapel Hill LED Lighting Upgrade for Hargraves Community Center Basketball Court Purchase and installation of new LED light fixtures to replace the existing, less efficient metal halide fixtures at the Hargraves Community Center outdoor basketball court $35,000 $0 16.6 15 Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health and Equity 1. Video Vignettes of Climate Health Principles in Clinical Practice; 2. Solar Arrays and Energy Offsets for Medically High‐Risk Residents 1. Production of bilingual videos on climate health to be used in clinical practice; 2. Planning for solar arrays to offset energy costs through renewable energy credits for medically high‐risk patients $64,850 $0 15.2 16 Parker Farm and Vineyard Carbon Sequestration through Pasture Establishment Transition 60 acres of intensively tilled row‐ cropped tobacco into permanent pasturelands for regenerative grazing $39,085 $0 15.1 17 Town of Carrboro Enhancing Resilience and Biodiversity: Rain Gardens at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Installation of two rain gardens in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to manage stormwater runoff, enhance local biodiversity, and contribute to education and outreach $50,000 $0 14.7 18 One Soil Farm Electric Vehicle and EV Charger for Produce Delivery Electric vehicle and EV charger for produce delivery $50,000 $0 14.7 19 The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter Energy Efficiency Initiative Installation of NFRC UV ray blocking films on all eastern and western exposure windows $10,000 $0 14.3 20 Kolibri Farm Cultivation, Cooking and Community Purchase of multiple electric appliances for kitchen, powered by solar array, as well as seeds, mower and drill for community garden $60,077 $0 14.0 21 Spring Crest Farms Solar Well Pump System Installation of solar well in remote area to reduce GHG and provide water for cattle $18,000 $0 12.4 22 Blawesome Sun Smart: Functional Shade Structure for Energy‐Efficient Cold Storage Installation of cold storage protective structure around existing cold storage unit to enhance its functionality and energy efficiency $15,000 $0 11.9 23 The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter Sustainable Landscape Project Installation of 20’ x 30’pollinator garden, two commercial grade rain barrels, a tri‐ section compost bin and bird feeding station $33,000 $0 11.2 24 Botanist and Barrel Rural Electric Vehicle Charging Station Installation of a 2 port Level 2 EV charging station at a commercial site in Cedar Grove $12,000 $0 9.8 25 Fiori Hill ‐ Homeowner's Association Floating Wetlands in Fiori Hill SCM/Koi Pond Purchase floating wetlands and plants as part of SCM designed to sequester carbon, reduce algal growth, and eliminate the need for an aeration system $7,000 $0 9.0 Total Requested: Total: $1,151,873 $262,500 7Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Below is a set of expanded details for each proposed project, in rank order per HRC and CFE scoring. The quoted text was pulled directly from various sections of the submitted applications. Also summarized below are the comments from the HRC and the CFE, along with scores and funding recommendations. #1 Ranked Project – Trees for the Triangle – Tree Planting at Schools Applicant (Collaborators): Dedicated to Our Community of North Carolina (DOC NC) Funding Requested: $50,000 Recommended Funding Level: $50,000 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 22.1 Project Description: Trees for the Triangle will use the funds to plant 260 native trees and distribute 2,600 seedlings across 13 schools in Orange County, promoting tree equity and environmental enhancement. The funds will support tree planting, data‐driven site selection, and community engagement, prioritizing schools in rural, underserved areas. Project Benefits: This investment will create cooler, healthier, and more resilient communities for current and future generations, while increasing community engagement and access to green spaces. Economic development will be supported by showcasing career options for students, conducting skill‐building activities, offering volunteer and internship opportunities and sourcing materials from local nurseries and businesses. The program is expected to benefit approximately 55,000 students and school staff over the lifespan of the trees. In addition, an estimated 6,300 people will benefit from the 2,600 seedlings distributed during educational presentations, including the students' families who receive seedlings, as well as school faculty and staff who frequently visit the schools. Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly supports this project, praising its focus on benefiting Orange County schools and their surrounding communities. They value the lasting impact it will have through tree planting, which offers enduring environmental and social benefits. Similarly, the HRC appreciates the project’s emphasis on rural Orange County schools, particularly those serving high‐minority and low‐income populations. Both commissions are enthusiastic about the educational opportunities embedded in the project and its overall positive impact on the community. #2 Ranked Project – Habitat for Humanity – Rooftop Solar Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $100,000 Recommended Funding Level: $50,000 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 21.7 Project Description: Habitat for Humanity of Orange County proposes to install rooftop solar panels on fourteen newly constructed affordable Habitat homes in Habitat’s Weavers Grove Community in Chapel Hill. Project Benefits: The solar installations will help to address inequities in access to green technology in Orange County, while promoting environmental and resident health by decreasing the amount of fossil fuels burned. Limiting monthly energy costs is a critical component of housing affordability. The addition of a 5.4‐kW rooftop solar system will save each qualified Habitat household approximately $780 per year in energy costs. Reviewer Comments: This project, submitted by a trusted and highly productive organization, was recognized as excellent by the CFE. However, partial funding was awarded to ensure the 2024 CCAG funding could support a diverse range of projects. The HRC values this initiative for its focus on providing affordable, energy‐efficient housing to low‐income and underserved communities. #3 Ranked Project – Empowerment – Rooftop Solar Applicant (Collaborators): SolarEquity Inc. Funding Requested: $19,800 Recommended Funding Level: $19,800 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 20.9 8Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Project Description: Last year, Empowerment received $61,623 in Community Climate Action Grant funds for solar installation on the PEACH Apartments. This year, Empowerment is asking for funds that will go towards the cost of a panel box tailored to PEACH’s electrical system and $4,300 worth of labor provided by NC Solar Now. This panel box and labor is necessary to finish the solar project. Project Benefits: The solarization of the PEACH Apartments will provide around 55,000 kWh of energy every year, saving $5,534 worth of energy costs. Consequently, the average tenant will see their energy bills reduced by approximately $46/month, or 6S%. The energy savings felt by those living in the PEACH Apartments may stimulate an additional $22,080 of local economic activity. About 156 people—assuming tenant turnover rate is 5 years—will directly benefit from the project, and the entire Pine Knolls Neighborhood will indirectly benefit from the project. Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly recommends full funding of $19,800 for this project, recognizing it as a robust and compelling application. This initiative has the potential to serve as a model for low‐income housing, demonstrating innovation and impact. Additionally, the HRC values the project's direct benefits to low‐income and marginalized communities, including the provision of solar energy for a historically Black neighborhood. #4 Ranked Project – Eno River Association – Piedmont Prairie and Reforestation Applicant (Collaborators): Triangle Prescribed Burn Association (Through NC Cooperative Extension), Bluestem Community NC Funding Requested: $67,600 Recommended Funding Level: $22,600 Total Score (Out of 25 pts): 20.5 Project Description: Funding requested to convert a 14.2‐acre existing agricultural field to a Piedmont prairie and the reforestation of another 8.6‐acre agricultural field in the Confluence Natural Area in northern Orange County plus the purchase of a 2024 John Deere diesel tractor. Project Benefits: The restored Piedmont prairie site will attract both wildlife and visitors, and positively benefit agricultural production as flowers begin to bloom, and native plants provide food and habitat for insects, birds, and other native fauna. The prairie will also improve the health of the soil and water of Orange County. These nature‐ based solutions will decrease CO2 emissions from previous cropland production as well as sequester carbon and the benefits will increase over time as trees grow larger and native Piedmont prairie plants mature. Through both passive and active learning, over 10,000 visitors and around 500 students annually will learn about the vast benefits of these habitats and how they might establish these habitats in their backyards. Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly supports the nature‐based solution of prairie restoration and has approved partial funding of $22,600 for the project (funding will cover prairie restoration efforts only, not the diesel tractor). This project will take place at a heavily visited park, and the Eno River Association brings a robust camp and educational component to the initiative. The HRC appreciates the Association’s direct work with Title 1 schools, providing valuable opportunities for underserved students. While there is some engagement with marginalized groups, the project is not specifically focused on racial equity. Nonetheless, it offers educational benefits for visitors of all income levels and ethnic backgrounds. #5 Ranked Project – SolarEquity – Rooftop Solar Applicant (Collaborators): Funding Requested: $78,251 Recommended Funding Level: $50,000 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 19.1 Project Description: The installation of a 23.4‐kW solar array on the roof of the church, including a partial roof replacement, the cost of the solar equipment, and the cost of the labor to install the panels. 9Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Project Benefits: The installation of rooftop solar on St. Joseph's CME Church will provide around 28,431 kWh of energy every year, saving over $1,400 in energy costs. These savings will continue to accrue over the 25‐year lifetime of the panels and will be re‐injected into the Northside Neighborhood, stimulating higher home retention rates, and preserving the neighborhood’s complex history. Moreover, the system will prevent 1.038 million pounds of carbon from entering the atmosphere over 25 years. Reviewer Comments: The CFE considers this an excellent project with a significant impact on the local community, earning high marks for its community outreach and educational components. However, funding was limited to $50,000 for 2024 to ensure support could be provided to as many projects as possible. The HRC values the project’s focus on addressing energy poverty by providing solar solutions to low‐income households. Additionally, the church plays a vital role in serving a historically low‐income, minority neighborhood and offering support to the Northside community. #6 Ranked Project – Urban Sustainability Solutions – Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Project Applicant (Collaborators): Burt’s Bees, Environmental Protection Agency, Triangle Community Foundation, Carrboro Stormwater Management/Public Works Funding Requested: $71,000 Recommended Funding Level: $58,100 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 18.6 Project Description: Urban Sustainability Solutions will install sustainable stormwater management practices to minimize flooding, mold, and foundation issues on additional, historically underserved properties in Orange County. Funding will support training and certification of Orange County teachers and students via afterschool training programs, culminating with 1‐2 sustainable stormwater management multi‐home installations on Orange County properties. Project Benefits: This project will both protect and improve these properties, the residents and their waterways from the increased force and frequency of storm events accompanying climate warming. 50 students (and 10 teachers) trained in the USS program will receive real‐world work experience in sustainable stormwater and landscape engineering, providing them with job‐ready skills. Reviewer Comments: The CFE appreciates the workforce training and educational outreach components of this project, highlighting the organization’s strong track record. However, due to limited 2024 funding, support was capped at $58,000. The HRC values the project’s direct benefits to teachers and students, particularly its focus on installing stormwater management systems in historically underserved Orange County neighborhoods. They also commend the inclusion of a significant educational component and the provision of compensation for both teachers and students involved in the project. #7 Ranked Project – Red Hawk Farm – Renewable Energy Infrastructure Applicant (Collaborators): Branham Group Inc., NC Clean Energy Technology Center, Piedmont Electric Cooperative Funding Requested: $100,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 18.2 Project Description: Red Hawk Farm requests funds to hire a renewable energy contractor to supply engineering services for the farm’s USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant application, and to replace their existing single phase power supply lines with three phase, which is required to install the appropriately sized solar array needed for the farm and allow for future investment in geothermal heating and cooling systems. Project Benefits: These improvements would allow the farm to serve as a demonstration of what is possible with sustainability and renewable energy on farms in this region. This demonstration would be of 10Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 greatest benefit to other farmers and organizations motivated to support resilient communities and reduced emissions. The farm would save $19,915 on electricity and 153,108 kWh per year. Reviewer Comments: The CFE regarded this as a great project with significant potential but noted that full funding was not feasible as it would consume nearly half of the available grant funds and this was a project that needed full, not partial, funding to move forward. The application was strong and demonstrated a positive impact on the local economy and the CFE encourages Red Hawk to apply again and/or continue to pursue other funding through state and federal grants. The HRC appreciated the project as a valuable component of a broader initiative to transition the farm to sustainable operations. They also commended its ties to Durham schools for food supply, highlighting its commitment to social responsibility. #8 Ranked Project – Town of Chapel Hill – E‐bike Pilot Project Applicant (Collaborators): The Bicycle Chain, East Coast Electric Speed Shop, and Trek Funding Requested: $57,165 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 18.1 Project Description: The Town of Chapel Hill is creating a free e‐bike lending program and requests funding for e‐bike maintenance and management services to lengthen this pilot program another 6 months or more to offer e‐bike experiences to more residents. Funds would also cover helmets, locks, cargo e‐bike racks, bags, and baskets, and an additional bike rack for secure storage. Project Benefits: This project will increase participation in biking by reducing barriers to demographics who find it difficult financially and physically. It also will increase access to transportation for those who lack it. The reduction of tailpipe emissions will improve local air quality and help reduce traffic congestion and parking constraints. Economic stimulation will result from the sale of more e‐bikes. The use of biking equipment, like helmets, will increase public safety. Reviewer Comments: This was a strong and well‐written application; however, due to limited CCAG funds, the project could not be supported this year. There were also concerns about bike theft and the limited impact on Orange County’s economic development. The CFE encourages Chapel Hill to reapply next year. The HRC noted concerns about the demographics served, appreciating that the program provides free e‐bike access to low‐income individuals. However, they felt the outreach efforts lacked a strong focus on racial equity. #9 Ranked Project – Community Home Trust – Electrification Project Applicant (Collaborators): Carrboro Plumbing & Morales Heating and Cooling Funding Requested: $110,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.8 Project Description: Community Home Trust (CHT) proposes to provide electric water heaters as replacements for gas water heaters AND electric heat pumps as replacements for gas furnace/electric air conditioners for five (5) homes that are currently in the CHT inventory. This proposal will remove barriers for homeowners to replace their equipment. Project Benefits: By successfully completing these conversions, the homes will be better candidates for the addition of solar‐electric panels, providing an exciting opportunity to engage homeowners in additional solar energy education. CHT would also be in a better position to analyze additional efficiency measures such as weatherization. Up to 20 individuals will benefit immediately. The RMI analysis estimates heating and cooling costs will be lowered by $10,159 per house over the 15‐year lifetime of the HVAC equipment. As the homes are permanently affordable, CHT expects additional beneficiaries over time. Homeowners’ fuel consumption along with gas bills will begin to decrease immediately. 11Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognized the valuable mission of electrifying homes but noted that the project’s cost was high relative to the limited number of people it would serve. They also suggested strengthening the climate education component. The HRC appreciated that the project addresses racial disparities in homeownership by focusing on affordable housing initiatives for low‐income and minority communities. #10 Ranked Project – Endswell – Solar Project Applicant (Collaborators): Farewell Earth Funding Requested: $15,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.6 Project Description: The funds will be used towards the installation of a 40‐kW solar array that will offset all energy usage of this eco‐friendly funeral home. Project Benefits: Annual savings of $7100 are expected. Endswell intends to use this money to expand an affordability fund to make their services more affordable. The project will have immediate benefits in terms of the reduction in carbon‐emission and energy‐cost savings. Additionally, the installation of the solar array could help draw attention to the eco‐friendly death‐care movement as a whole. Reviewer Comments: The CFE strongly supports the business’s mission and outreach efforts; however, the solar panels would primarily benefit the business itself, with limited local economic impact. The HRC expressed concern about the limited engagement with low‐income and marginalized communities, though they acknowledged the project’s partnership with Black‐owned funeral homes. Ultimately, they felt the project would primarily benefit the business rather than the broader community. #11 Ranked Project – Town of Carrboro – Sustainable Transportation Pilot Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $49,620 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.5 Project Description: Funds will be used to purchase e‐bikes, safety equipment, and storage to allow Town employees to replace most low‐cargo trips within two miles of each town building and a portion of trips beyond two miles. Project Benefits: This project will remove cars from the road and reduce emissions from gas‐powered vehicles, shorten travel times on trips during peak hours when car congestion is high, extend the life of existing vehicles, encourage active transportation in Town, contribute to the health and wellness of Town employees, and educate the public on the ever‐growing uses of e‐bikes in our area. Reviewer Comments: While the CFE is eager to support transportation projects, funding is limited, and this project primarily benefits Carrboro town employees, who must also be willing to bike. The HRC believes that the Town of Carrboro should cover the cost of these e‐bikes for their employees, given that they are primarily used for government‐related business. #12 Ranked Project – Jubilee Healing Farm – Cob Outdoor Classroom and Food Forest Applicant (Collaborators): PORCH Hillsborough Funding Requested: $34,625 Recommended Funding Level: $12,000 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 17.2 Project Description: Jubilee Healing Farm seeks to build a cob outdoor classroom and food forest to teach participants and visitors low carbon emission building strategies and create a zero‐emission building project sourced 12Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 from soil. This classroom will serve as a location for teaching about permaculture and expanded understanding of ecologically sustainable practices around food. Project Benefits: Building a food forest and pond alongside the classroom will amplify carbon sequestration and positively impact community food security. The cob outdoor classroom and food forest will provide a new site for community education, workshops, and programs around climate, food, and sustainability. The Jubilee Healing Farm Food Forest would provide another source of locally produced food for PORCH and contribute to Orange County’s network of edible gardens. Reviewer Comments: The CFE appreciates the organization’s mission and partnerships. As a new initiative just getting off the ground, partial funding is recommended, focusing specifically on the food forest component, as the cob architecture and structure have limited impact on Orange County's GHG reduction goals. The HRC values that the project will collaborate with Porch to support low‐income families. While the organization is new, its social justice‐ driven mission and its status as a minority‐run therapy farm are highly commendable. #13 Ranked Project – Eno River Farmers’ Market – Compost Monitor Applicant (Collaborators): Orange County Solid Waste Services, Brooks Contractors Funding Requested: $4,800 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 16.6 Project Description: Funds are requested to pay for a compost monitor for the Eno River Farmers' Market (ERFM) Community Compost Collection site. The monitor will work every week during market hours throughout the year to ensure that only compostable items are collected and will educate participants (ERFM customers and vendors, and other community members who use the site) about composting in general and about the "commercial composting" they are using. Additional funds are requested to buy cleaning supplies. Project Benefits: This project will help Orange County residents reduce transportation to county waste and recycling centers to drop off food waste. It will also decrease the amount of waste going to the landfill (including items that can be composted only commercially, not in a home bin), reduce methane emissions at the landfill, and reduce transportation to the landfill. It will encourage residents to compost because of the convenience of the drop‐off site and may encourage new composters who see the site and learn about composting. Ultimately, it will lead to the creation of rich compost that will increase the carbon capture of soil in Orange County and the surrounding area. Reviewer Comments: The CFE appreciates that the compost monitors help educate community members; however, the monitor position itself does not significantly contribute to GHG reductions, and the project offers limited impact on local economic development. The HRC expressed concerns that the project does not engage a diverse group, limiting its broader community impact. #13 Ranked Project – Town of Chapel Hill – LED Upgrade Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $35,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 16.6 Project Description: The requested funds will be used to purchase and install new LED light fixtures to replace the existing, less efficient metal halide fixtures at the Hargraves Community Center outdoor basketball court. Hargraves Community Center is located in Chapel Hill’s largest historically black neighborhood and is part of the NC Civil Rights Trail. In addition to the emissions reductions, this retrofit would enhance safety, improve neighborhood relations, and minimize maintenance and energy costs. Project Benefits: This proposed upgrade would provide both better lighting and better quality of life. Carbon emissions will be reduced through improved energy efficiency, and this new lighting system will significantly reduce 13Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 spill light and glare while also allowing the lights to be consistently turned off each night by 11 pm. This has biodiversity benefits (especially for migrating birds in spring and fall) and would benefit neighbors by reducing light spillage, glare, and noise after 11 pm. Reviewer Comments: The CFE supports this project for its focus on addressing light pollution, benefiting both birds and people. However, it offers limited potential for GHG emission reductions and local economic development. The HRC values that the project targets a historically Black neighborhood, providing energy‐efficient upgrades that enhance safety and climate resilience. Hargraves Center plays a vital role in supporting low‐income communities, making this project especially impactful. #15 Ranked Project – Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health and Equity – Climate Videos and Planning for Solar Arrays Applicant (Collaborators): Multiple physicians, health professionals, and health care trainees Funding Requested: $64,850 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 15.2 Project Description: These funds would be used to produce: 1) bilingual videos on climate health to be used in clinical practice and 2) develop an assessment and plan for an Orange County program that would enable medically high‐risk residents to reduce their energy bills with renewable energy credits. Local solar array sites, hosted on private or nonprofit businesses, could choose to participate by offering offsets from the energy their arrays generate. This model is based on a successful pilot based at Boston Medical Center and would be adapted for our community. Project Benefits: The videos would support good clinical practice ensuring clinicians have the tools to address climate‐related clinical challenges. Building on these educational initiatives, the second part of the project would develop a plan to provide ongoing financial support to low income, medically high‐risk individuals. Lowering the energy burden (heating and cooling costs) for these individuals will reduce the risk of temperature‐related adverse health outcomes for the duration of the program. The proposed project would reduce greenhouse gases, increase renewable energy consumption, and support climate resilience for low‐income, medically high‐ risk residents. Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognized the creativity and innovation of this project, noting its potential to reach a large segment of the population. However, the project did not directly contribute to GHG emission reductions, and while the CFE supports the idea, it did not align with funding parameters. The HRC agreed that the project is a valuable initiative, particularly for medically vulnerable and low‐income households. However, it was felt that its association with UNC Health should secure funding for this effort. #16 Ranked Project – Parker Farm and Vineyard – Carbon Sequestration through Prairie Establishment Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $39,085 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 15.1 Project Description: The requested funds will support the transformation of approximately 60 acres of intensively tilled tobacco farmland into permanent pasturelands for regenerative grazing. This transition involves seeding the land with a rich mix of forages, installing fencing, and implementing rotational grazing for their grass‐fed cattle. By shifting from tobacco production to sustainable pasture management, this project will not only enhance carbon sequestration but also enable us to continue supplying our community with a local, nutrient‐dense food source. Project Benefits: This project will support Orange County's efforts to reduce and offset carbon emissions, aligning with the goals outlined in the County’s Climate Action Plan. By expanding our herd, enhancing soil health, and improving cattle genetics, we can sustainably strengthen our ability to feed both our local community and broader 14Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 regions. Additionally, we will leverage our connections within the county and collaborate with farmers across the state to share insights and best practices, fostering a network of knowledge and innovation. Reviewer Comments: The CFE acknowledges that this family‐run farm has been a staple in the community for over 100 years and deserves recognition for its ongoing improvements. However, the proposed pasture restoration project would have a limited impact on Orange County's economic development and the number of people it reaches. The HRC noted that while the project does not directly support disadvantaged populations, it does contribute to carbon sequestration efforts. #17 Ranked Project – Town of Carrboro – Rain Gardens Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $50,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.7 Project Description: Staff propose the installation of two rain gardens at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to effectively manage stormwater runoff, support local biodiversity, and provide opportunities for community education and outreach. The funding will be used to acquire native, pollinator‐friendly plants, river rocks for energy dissipation, fencing, and other essential materials, as well as create multilingual educational signage. Project Benefits: The rain garden, along with its informational signage, workshops, and volunteer events, will be accessible to all residents of the Town of Carrboro. Additionally, staff plan to develop an internal Operations and Maintenance manual for the rain gardens, which will be made available to the public for their use. Ongoing outreach and programming will also be provided to highlight stormwater mitigation tools and the significance of native species in supporting local ecosystems. Reviewer Comments: The CFE supports the mission of the project but noted that the garden would result in limited emissions reductions and is relatively expensive for a garden. The HRC believed that the Town of Carrboro could provide funding and mentioned concerns about the demographics served, with the project primarily benefiting more affluent neighborhoods. #18 Ranked Project – One Soil Farm – Electric Vehicle Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $50,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.7 Project Description: One Soil Farm proposes to purchase an electric cargo van to completely eliminate reliance on gasoline for produce delivery, while expanding the ability to serve more individual customers and restaurants with locally grown, sustainably sourced produce. Project Benefits: Our project serves the Jewish community across Orange and Durham counties, while our partnership with Farmer Foodshare enables us to extend our impact to low‐income households and historically underserved populations throughout the Triangle region. Through this collaboration, we provide fresh, nutritious, and sustainably grown food to those in need, helping to alleviate food insecurity and promote the overall well‐being of our community. Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognizes the farm's strong community connections and outreach efforts; however, the EV van would have limited impact on the local economy and Orange County's GHG reductions. The HRC believes that while the EV charger and vehicle would benefit the business, the project’s focus on a Jewish community—an underrepresented group in grant funding—is valuable. The project also engages marginalized groups to address food insecurity. 15Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 #19 Ranked Project – The ArtsCenter – Energy Efficiency Project Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $10,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.3 Project Description: The ArtsCenter’s renovated 1974 downtown building features over thirty windows, spanning a total of 1,000 square feet. Many of these floor‐to‐ceiling windows allow abundant natural light, which is invaluable for creating art. However, they also place significant strain on the building’s 27‐year‐old HVAC system, resulting in cold interior spaces and uncomfortably warm exterior rooms during the summer and parts of fall and spring. Installing window films offers a cost‐effective, immediate solution that will enhance comfort while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Project Benefits: Applying films to our western and southern‐facing windows will block up to 98% of UV rays and reduce energy bills by 38%. This initiative will benefit all visitors to the ArtsCenter by promoting awareness and education on energy‐efficient practices. Reviewer Comments: The CFE considered this project simple and easy to install. For future grant applications, we recommend increasing its impact on local economic development and providing more specific details. The project may have limited visibility unless signage is included. We also suggest exploring a Duke Energy grant as an additional funding option. The HRC sees potential to serve disadvantaged communities but noted the lack of direct engagement with these populations. #20 Ranked Project – Kolibri Farm – Cultivation, Cooking and Community Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $60,077 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 14.0 Project Description: The funds will be used to purchase equipment that will support an increased number of participants in the communal garden and expand the land dedicated to regenerative cultivation. Electric appliances for the kitchen will also be acquired, powered by a solar array, enabling participants to prepare healthy meals in an eco‐friendly environment. These funds will help facilitate community activities and shared meals, fostering stronger connections within the local community. Project Benefits: Regenerative farming helps sequester carbon, while providing fresh produce and prepared meals to individuals who may not have access to transportation or the income to afford fresh food from local markets. Additionally, the project offers educational benefits through hands‐on participation. By working in the garden, participants gain valuable knowledge while actively contributing to the community’s well‐being. Reviewer Comments: The CFE supports the mission and goals of the project but recommends prioritizing community connections before moving forward. The project's impact on local economic development and GHG reductions is currently limited. The HRC highlighted that the project promotes food security and community engagement through communal gardening, with a strong focus on racial and social equity. It also empowers low‐income families by providing the opportunity to grow their own food. #21 Ranked Project – Spring Crest Farms – Solar Well Pump Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $18,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 12.4 Project Description: Spring Crest Farms is a small, family‐owned and operated beef cattle farm that supplies locally raised beef products to Orange and Alamance County restaurants and directly to consumers. They are implementing 16Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 a new pasture to better graze their cattle and need a well to provide fresh, clean drinking water. This project involves installing a solar‐powered water pumping system, complete with a water storage tank, a concrete pad, and a protective housing structure. Project Benefits: Consumers will potentially benefit as the farm would have more beef to sell and more low‐cost beef could be sold to PORCH. This could also be a great example of how sustainability and conservation can easily be integrated into production agriculture. Reviewer Comments: The CFE noted that while the solar pump would benefit the farm, its impact on local economic development and GHG reductions in Orange County would be limited. The HRC acknowledged that the project would collaborate with Porch to provide affordable, locally grown beef but pointed out that there was minimal engagement with marginalized groups. #22 Ranked Project – Blawesome – Shade for Energy Efficient Cold Storage Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $15,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 11.9 Project Description: Blawesome, a unique flower farm and design studio is owned and co‐operated by a young farmer with autism and, as such, sets a powerful example of inclusion, demonstrating how all individuals, regardless of ability, can contribute meaningfully to environmental stewardship and community well‐being. This proposal is for the construction of a protective structure around an existing cold storage unit to enhance its functionality, energy efficiency, and reduce its climate impact. The cold storage is currently exposed to direct southern sun, which leads to higher energy consumption and decreased operational efficiency. By building a structure that shields the unit from harsh weather conditions, it will save energy, reduce maintenance costs, and improve performance. Project Benefits: This project has the potential to benefit community members from Orange County and the surrounding counties, particularly the estimated two and a half million people with disabilities in North Carolina and the approximately 13,000 in Orange County. Blawesome aims to be a model of the incredible outcomes that can be achieved through inclusivity and diversity by fostering a community that values and honors all its members. Reviewer Comments: The CFE praised the farm’s mission and noted that the application was well written. However, they recommend reaching a broader audience to increase the project's impact on local economic development and enhance its effect on Orange County’s GHG emissions. The HRC acknowledged the environmental focus of the project but pointed out the limited engagement with marginalized communities, especially those with disabilities, who are often underserved in the County. #23 Ranked Project – The ArtsCenter – Sustainable Landscape Project Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $33,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 11.2 Project Description: This grant would enable The ArtsCenter to launch its educational sustainable landscape initiative. This plan includes preparation and planting of a 20' x 30' pollinator garden, installation of two commercial grade rain barrels, a tri‐section compost bin, and a locally crafted migratory bird feeding/observation station. The purpose of this project is to: 1) provide a model sustainable landscape for enjoyment and education and 2) provide nature‐based solutions, reduce waste, improve soil, and reduce the campus’s carbon footprint. Project Benefits: The ArtsCenter provides 75,000 arts experiences annually and they anticipate a sustainable park‐ like campus and sculpture garden to draw tens of thousands more people every year. They especially hope to impact children who will learn about sustainable living practices such as water capture methods, pollinator plants and 17Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 animals, migratory birds, soil amending, recycling, composting, planting and caring for plants, and best practices for living sustainably. Reviewer Comments: The CFE noted that the garden and bird station would attract more outdoor visitors to the Art Center. They recommended providing additional details on the budget and GHG reduction potential and highlighted that the project is small in scale but high in cost. They also suggested exploring alternative garden grant sources such as T‐Mobile, the NC Botanical Garden, the NC Native Plant Society, or the Carrboro Green Neighbor Grant. The HRC recognized the potential to serve disadvantaged communities but noted the lack of direct engagement with these groups. #24 Ranked Project – Botanist and Barrel – Electric Vehicle Charging Station Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $12,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 9.8 Project Description: Botanist and Barrel proposes to use the funds to install a two‐port Level 2 electric vehicle charging station at a commercial business in Cedar Grove, NC. This project will provide EV charging to local residents who may not have the resources to install charging stations at their private residences as well as encourage EV drivers who live in urban areas to visit rural business and farms, promoting beneficial electrification and supporting climate change mitigation. The funds will cover the cost of equipment, installation, and associated expenses. Project Benefits: The project will provide a charging station for area residents as well as Cedar Grove visitors. It will also expand EV charging to rural communities in Orange County. Reviewer Comments: The CFE recognized this as a great initiative to serve rural areas, but noted that, beyond B&B employees/customers, access to the charger would be limited. The HRC pointed out the mixed impact—while rural charging is beneficial, it seems to primarily benefit the business rather than the broader community. #25 Ranked Project – Fiori Hill – Floating Wetlands Applicant (Collaborators): N/A Funding Requested: $7,000 Recommended Funding Level: $0 Total Score (Out of 26 pts): 9.0 Project Description: This project is for the establishment of floating wetlands in the concrete settling pond of the Stormwater Control Management (SCM) system of the Fiori Hill neighborhood. Plant life in this concrete pond will sequester carbon, ideally increase the life of the SCM, reduce algal growth, and eliminate or reduce the need for an aeration system. The operations funds are to run and maintain it appropriately. They will actively reach out to other local communities to share learnings and experience and anticipate that neighborhood children will share this in their classrooms. Project Benefits: Approximately 100 people in the neighborhood will benefit directly and they anticipate an additional 100 per year based on outreach efforts. Floating wetlands are a way to improve the quality of the water in the settling pond, decrease evaporation, reduce algal blooms, allow for carbon sequestration, reduce reliance on an electricity‐powered aerator system, and increase the health of the pond’s ecosystem. The hope is that the floating wetlands will increase the longevity of the dry bioretention pond, improve the quality of the surface water flowing from the neighborhoods into the Eno River, serve as an educational opportunity for the neighborhood and others, and improve the aesthetics of the community. Reviewer Comments: The CFE described this as a great community project and expressed hope that residents will continue to pursue it. However, they noted its limited impact on Orange County’s GHG reductions and that the 18Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 primary beneficiaries are residents of Fiori Hills. The HRC highlighted concerns that the project did not target low‐ income populations and served a non‐diverse, high‐income neighborhood. Appendix: Full Scoring Table: Final Rank Applicant Name Project Name Amount Requested 1. Social Justice and Racial Equity (0‐6 pts) 2. Emissions reduced (0‐4 pts) 3. Efficient use of Funds (0‐4 pts) 4. Capacity of Applicant (0‐3 pts) 5. Local Economic Developme nt (0‐3 pts) 6. Duration of Engageme nt (0‐3 pts) 7. Time to complete (0‐3 pts) Total Score 1 Trees for the Triangle Shade for Schools $50,000 4.4 3.7 3.1 3.0 2.3 2.7 2.9 22.1 2 Habitat for Humanity Rooftop Solar on Habitat Homes $100,000 5.6 3.0 3.3 3.0 2.0 2.3 2.4 21.7 3 Empowerm ent Peach Apartments Solar Project $19,800 5.8 3.1 3.1 2.8 2.0 2.4 2.3 20.9 4 Eno River Association Nature Based Solutions at the Confluence Natural Area $67,600 4.4 3.4 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.6 20.5 5 Solar Equity St. Joseph's CME Church Solar Project $78,251 4.8 2.1 2.3 2.8 2.0 2.6 2.6 19.1 6 Urban Sustainabili ty Solutions Orange County Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program $71,000 5.75 2.0 1.8 2.7 1.7 2.1 2.7 18.6 7 Red Hawk Farm Farm Renewable Energy Infrastructure $100,000 3.6 2.8 2.4 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.0 18.2 8 Town of Chapel Hill Extended Service and Key Equipment for E‐ Bike Pilot Program $57,165 3.8 2.1 2.1 2.6 1.9 2.3 3.0 18.1 9 Community Home Trust Electrify 5 CHT homes with water heaters and heat pumps $110,000 5.4 2.0 2.3 3.0 1.9 1.6 2.2 17.8 10 Endswell The First Carbon Neutral Funeral Home $15,000 3.6 3.1 3.4 2.2 1.9 1.9 2.2 17.6 11 Town of Carrboro Sustainable Transportation Pilot $49,620 3.4 1.9 2.1 2.7 2.7 1.9 2.9 17.5 12 Jubilee Healing Farm Cob Outdoor Classroom and Food Forest $34,625 5.4 2.5 2.4 2.0 1.3 2.1 1.5 17.2 13 Eno River Farmers' Market Compost Monitor $4,800 3.2 1.9 1.9 3.0 2.0 1.9 2.8 16.6 13 Town of Chapel Hill LED Lighting Upgrade for Hargraves Community Center Basketball Court $35,000 5.2 1.5 2.0 2.8 1.3 1.6 3.0 16.6 19Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 15 Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health and Equity 1. Video Vignettes of Climate Health Principles in Clinical Practice; 2. Solar Arrays and Energy Offsets for Medically High‐ Risk Residents $64,850 3.6 0.9 2.0 2.3 1.8 2.4 2.4 15.2 16 Parker Farm and Vineyard Carbon Sequestration through Pasture Establishment $39,085 3.4 2.0 1.9 2.8 1.5 1.2 2.4 15.1 17 Town of Carrboro Enhancing Resilience and Biodiversity: Rain Gardens at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park $50,000 2.4 1.0 1.6 2.7 2.0 2.6 2.6 14.7 18 One Soil Farm Electric Vehicle and EV Charger for Produce Delivery $50,000 3.25 1.9 1.8 2.7 1.6 1.9 1.7 14.7 19 The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter Energy Efficiency Initiative $10,000 3 1.8 2.1 2.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 14.3 20 Kolibri Farm Cultivation, Cooking and Community $60,077 4.6 1.8 1.6 2.0 1.0 1.3 1.8 14.0 21 Spring Crest Farm Solar Well Pump System $18,000 3.8 1.0 1.5 2.1 1.0 1.1 1.9 12.4 22 Blawesome Sun Smart: Functional Shade Structure for Energy‐Efficient Cold Storage $15,000 3.6 0.6 0.8 2.4 1.2 1.2 2.1 11.9 23 The ArtsCenter The ArtsCenter Sustainable Landscape Project $33,000 2.8 0.9 1.7 1.7 1.2 1.9 1.1 11.2 24 Botanist and Barrel Rural Electric Vehicle Charging Station $12,000 2.6 1.3 0.9 1.3 1.2 0.4 2.0 9.8 25 Fiori Hill ‐ Homeowne r's Association Floating Wetlands in Fiori Hill SCM/Koi Pond $7,000 2.8 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.9 1.3 1.3 9.0 20Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Attachment 2 ‐ Community Climate Action Grant Project Status Fiscal Year Project Organization Award Amount Estimated Annual GHG Reduction metric tons CO2e Project Status 19‐20 Solar for Schools* Orange County Schools$150,000 25In progress19‐20 Solar for Schools** Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools $150,000 194In progress19‐20 Supplemental Weatherization Orange County$150,000 22 In progress19‐20 LED Light Campaign* Orange County$19,272 4COMPLETED 20‐21 Tree Planting Program Town of Chapel Hill$40,000 880 (pounds)COMPLETED20‐21 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Town of Chapel Hill$18,500 6COMPLETED20‐21 Cedar Falls Park LED Light Conversion Town of Chapel Hill$128,057 9 COMPLETED20‐21 Cane Creek Reservoir 352.4 kW Solar OWASA$75,000 110COMPLETED20‐21 Water heater replacements NAACP$122,100 26 In progress20‐21 Solar Panels on Affordable Habitat Homes Habitat for Humanity of Orange County $95,000 16 COMPLETED 21‐22 Low Income HVAC Replacement Rebuilding Together of the Triangle $113,000 34 COMPLETED21‐22 Neighborhood Energy Resiliency ProjectNC Sustainable Energy Association $90,000 10 COMPLETED21‐22 Food Waste Monitor Eno River Farmer’s Market$4,000 19COMPLETED21‐22 Food Waste Monitor Town of Carrboro$3,765 19In progress21‐22 Bike Rack and EV Charging Station The ArtsCenter$17,000 6COMPLETED21‐22 203 Project Solar Array and Green RoofTown of Carrboro$40,567 See FY 22‐23In progress21‐22 Solar for Schools Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools $250,00 See FY 19‐20In progress 22‐23 Habitat Rooftop Solar Habitat for Humanity$100,000 22COMPLETED22‐23 Weatherization Rebuilding Together of the Triangle $25,0005COMPLETED22‐23 Food Waste Monitors Eno River Farmers’ Market$4,500 19COMPLETED22‐23 203 Solar Project Town of Carrboro$40,575 21In progress22‐23 Fleet Electrification Project Town of Chapel Hill$50,000 33 In progress22‐23 Solar Roof The ArtsCenter$55,000 27COMPLETED22‐23 Emission Reductions Through HVAC Replacements Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools $275,075 147 In progress 23‐24 Supplemental weatherization to home repair projects Habitat for Humanity$55,000 7 In progress23‐24 Green infrastructure and apprenticeship program for Orange County Schools Urban Sustainability Solutions $69,156 5 COMPLETED21Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 Attachment 2 ‐ Community Climate Action Grant Project Status * 54 Panel bi‐facial solar pedestal and three EV chargers; ** Morris Grove and Northside Elementary slated to receive solar. 23‐24 Rooftop solar Hillsborough United Church of Christ $10,0007COMPLETED23‐24 Rooftop solar Binkley Baptist Church$49,036 5COMPLETED23‐24 Rooftop solar on Peach Apartments EMPOWERment$61,623 12In progress23‐24 Installation of gardens, terrace and greenhouse, plant‐based diets Club Nova $37,227 5 In progress23‐24 LED light campus changeover CHCCCS $94,014 24 COMPLETED23‐24 54‐panel solar panel pedestal with battery storage and 3 EV charging stations Orange County Schools $188,029 36 In progress22Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897 ANY PROPRIETOR/PARTNER/EXECUTIVE OFFICER/MEMBER EXCLUDED? 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